Fresh Herbs and a Hot/Cold Supper

Fresh Herbs and a Hot/Cold Supper

I planted an herb pot on my deck with fresh basil, oregano, and dill. I bought these at the grocery store so they probably aren’t very hardy for deck life but I will give it a try.

DSCF3029

Tonight I made our favorite bean soup which uses the oregano…

DSCF3032

…but since it is still so stinkin’ hot in Atlanta – 90’s every day, I wanted to make a cold end to our supper.  I made some peach ice cream topped with caramel sauce and glazed almonds.

DSCF3026

We are about to be blasted with a storm tonight so I’m typing fast although I’m not sure why impending doom makes me type fast.  She’s feeling it, too.

populaire-2

The soup is basically a pantry soup with the addition of fresh garlic and onion.

DSCF3006

You can also use fresh oregano.,or if you don’t have the bountiful deck garden like I do (ha ha) you can use dried.

Black Bean Soup

1 medium onion, chopped (mine was 6 ounces)

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (or 1 teaspoon fresh)

1/2 teaspoon salt (I actually don’t add any because of the salt in the broth and beans)

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon tomato paste

2 14.5-ounce cans chicken broth

1 16-ounce can black beans, rinsed

1 16-ounce can white beans, rinsed

Cook onions and garlic in oil.Add spices.  Add tomato paste, then broth.  Simmer 10-15 minutes.  Add beans and simmer at least 10 more minutes.

It’s not a very fancy soup but it is tasty and easy to make, and I pretty much always have the ingredients on hand.

DSCF3046

 

The peach ice cream was quick and easy to make, too, because I had the ice cream freezer bowls in the freezer ready to go.

DSCF3009

Peach Ice Cream

1 1/4 cups pureed peaches

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup half and half

1 cup whipping cream

Mix together the peaches and sugar.  Add the half and half and whipping cream.  Place in freezer and follow manufacturers directions for freezing.

I will probably never eat peach ice cream without these almonds ever again.  They were the perfect addition to the ice cream.

Glazed Almonds

1 + 3 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 cups sliced almonds

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt (you can double the salt if you like the nuts sweet/salty)

Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Melt one tablespoon butter and spread over the foil.  In a skillet melt butter.  Add the sugar and stir.  Add the almonds and cook over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until sugar turns golden brown.  Remove from heat.  Carefully stir in the vanilla.  Pour nuts on the cookie sheet and separate into clusters.  Sprinkle with salt.  Allow to cool and break apart if necessary.

Melt the butter and add sugar.

DSCF3010

Add the almonds and keep stirring over medium heat.

DSCF3013

Soon they will be golden brown.

DSCF3014

Pour on a cookie sheet and top with salt.

DSCF3015

Here is the final bowl of ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with glazed almonds.  Storm?  What storm??  So yummy it makes you forget.DSCF3025

 

 

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
No comments yet.

Leave a Reply

3 × 5 =