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What's Cookin': 15 ·The IFP· Halton Hills, Thursday, July 19, 2012 Cold soups are a lost art Cucumber soup is a lovely way to start a summer meal. And what a great item to take on a summer picnic if you have a vessel you can put it in to keep it cool. That is the only problem, this dish is not so fabulous when it is warm-- it really needs to be quite cold. I think cold soups are a lost art. Rhubarb, cherry, strawberry, all make wonderful cool summer soups-- as well as my all time favorite, gazpacho! But they really aren't spoken of much. I know back in our catering days, we would sometimes do a cold soup as a first course at a summer wedding. They seem somehow more elegant than their hot cousins. Garnish your cool soup with any of these toppings: a drizzle of fresh cream, finely chopped fresh chives, edible flowers, Serves 6 Ingredients · 3 English cucumbers, peeled, halved and seeded · 1 clove garlic, minced · 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock · 2 cups plain yogurt · 2 tsp coarse salt · 1 tsp ground pepper · 1/2 to 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves (save 6 for garnish) · 1 tsp fresh lemon juice Method Cut 2 1/2 cucumbers into 1 inch dice. The Truth About Hormone Imbalance BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY: Is it Right For You? Peri-Menopause, Menopause, Thyroid Imbalance, Saliva Testing & HCG Weight Loss Lori Gysel & Gerry Kentner lemon or lime zest, minced strawberry or pepper-- depending on whether the soup is sweet or savoury. You can present the soup in a large tureen and then ladle it into the individual bowls at the table, or you could present the soup in something a little different-- like maybe a martini glass with a bow tied around the stem, or at a cocktail party, try serving little shot glasses of the soup; that always gets people talking! Have fun and keep cooking! Email questions and comments to Lori and Gerry at whatscooking@theifp.ca Cut the other half cucumber into one quarter inch dice for garnish. Combine cucumbers and garlic in food processor for 1 minute. Add yogurt, stock, salt and pepper, mint and lemon. Process until smooth. If you would like this finer, strain through a sieve. Chill for 3 hours at least. To serve, ladle soup into bowls or glasses, garnish with diced cucumbers and a sprig of fresh mint. Marie, 47, suffered from mood swings, weight gain and low libido... then she did a saliva test... Chilled Cucumber Soup KELLY NOLAN, BSc Pharm. kelly@avitaintegrativehealth.ca $ Saliva Hormone Test Expires July 27th, 2012 25 off Avita Integrative Health & Restoration Clinic 5A Conestoga Drive, Ste 300, Brampton 905-455-0488 www.avitaintegrativehealth.ca Halton Hills Shop Talk BLOGS AND VIDEOS ABOUT LOCAL SHOPPING Meet local service providers, find information about their products and get advice on home décor, technology, fitness and more! LOCAL DEALS! GREAT CHOICES! GREAT INFO! BEST PRICES! BLOGS & VIDEOS! Visit haltonhillsshoptalk.com or contact The IFP at 905-873-0301 for more information