Beverages

So last night was Soup Night, and for the last 3 months I've been using hot spiced cider as an unprocessed beverage work-around, but it's April and I thought we were ready for a less "wintry" beverage.

If I had thought about it earlier--or if I actually liked the stuff--I would have made iced tea. Tea, coffee--they're allowed. So is beer & wine we think, though now we've discovered that some beers & wines have caramel coloring added, so they've been moved to the "suspect" list. If I was dedicated enough to squeeze 50+ lemons I could have served lemonade, but if I spend 4 hours squeezing lemons for a party, I wouldn't be in the mood for a party any longer.

So, raiding the freezer for frozen berries, the fridge for some nonfat yogurt, and the addition of LEGAL apple juice & orange juice.....
this strange-looking substance was the beverage of choice for the evening,which does help me understand why we add food coloring to everything. It wasn't green or anything, but just a dull peachy-pink color, and I grew up in the era of Kool-Aid & Hawaiian Punch, so every "punch" I've ever had was a bright, vivid color that stained clothes & carpets like crazy when the inevitable spills happened. (Have you ever wondered why the beverages intended for the people most likely to spill them--children--are the ones we put all the food coloring into? Isn't that just begging for trouble???)

We served it with champagne or lemon-lime soda for mixers, and I have to say it was great stuff. And I am pleased to report that I refrained from adding wheat germ or ground flax seed, as I would have to smoothies for just Andy & I. I think if our friends are being tolerant enough to put up with our little food experiments, we should be nice & not make them too darn weird. That only seems fair.

Last night's soups were corn & sweet potato,and cream of spring onion,which featured fresh chives from the garden.Alright, so the chives came back all by themselves & I really had nothing to do with it, but I was quite proud nonetheless. At least I didn't kill them over the winter. Unfortunately I can't say the same for the parsley.......

Theo loves Soup Night, I think because once a month there are tables downstairs that aren't off-limitsthough he doesn't appreciate being locked in the bedroom for the actual party. I know he's a good socializer, but the last time he was allowed to roam free during a party, he came in with a live mouse which he proceeded to fling up in the air & bat around right in the living room like some bizarre floor show, and I just don't think Soup Night is that sort of party.....