A Cup of Pea

There is nothing quite like hot soup in a big mug. Every sip warms the soul, and the hands. Once again cold, this is exactly what Baby A planned to prepare to make Baby B last night. Then.....the sun came out. Although still not very warm, the sun through the windows made us feel warm, feel like spring. Fresh tastes as bright as the day and cheerful as this blog were what we craved. A hot, hearty soup just wouldn't do. But lacking in the fresh ingredients from the market, we made do. Thank goodness for frozen peas. Peas are always there when you need them. To bulk up rice and potatoes, to mash as a side, or to hold against the body as a cold compress. Frozen peas are always on hand, and the perfect fresh taste we needed last night. We used a bag of frozen peas (not previously used as a cold compress) and microwaved them with a little water until thawed. We then pureed them with fresh herbs. On this night it was a trio of herbs in mint, sage, and dill, all found in the fridge, begging for consumption. A few diced green onions, salt and pepper, was all it took to make this cup of soup. We chilled it down, but heartily agreed it was as good warm as cold, and would still delight at room temperature. Perfect for entertaining, for doing ahead and for eating when the sun peeks from behind the gray.

Trio Herb Pea Soup
1/2 bag frozen peas
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
1 tablespoon chopped green onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Dill sprigs for garnish

Place peas in a microwave safe container. Just barely cover with water. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Drain, reserving liquid.

Place peas and remaining ingredients in the blender, and blend until smooth, adding as much of the reserved liquid as necessary to make a loose soup.

Serve warm, chill and serve cold, or leave at room temperature.

Yield: 2 servings