7.25.2010

Fighting the Heat with a Honeydew, Mint and Lemon Thyme Soup



It has been incredibly hot and humid in the Southeast this past week. I have a bit of a bad habit of constantly checking my weather app in my phone to see what the actual heat index is. A bad habit I should stop since there is nothing I can do about the weather anyway. Just accept it.

Soaring temperatures and humidity make me want to stay inside, drink ice cold lemonade and snack on refreshing fruit salads.



Every year when August comes around, I start thinking about our childhood camping trips. My parents had the entire month of August off and we would pack the family camper and spend the first half the month in the mountains and the second, at the beach.

We would take day trips in the surrounding areas and I remember my dad always stopping at local produce stands to get a whole melon as a snack. We would just find a place to sit, cut the melon into wedges and eat it in silence. We seem to do that a lot in my family. Sit, eat and look around.



There really isn't anything better to fight the heat than some cold soup. Sweet honeydew melon, a little cucumber, squeeze of lemon juice and lots of mint and lemon thyme from my herb pots. Super simple, but perfect to fight this summer heat. I also made some savory crackers with lots of crispy jamon serrano, pink peppercorns and lemon thyme.



Actually I have to tell you that I loved this so much that I will be making it when I appear on the Basque cooking show Robin Food. We will be recording it next month when we go back home. I am excited to meet David de Jorge and very anxious at the same time. Those who know me well know how I always shy away from cameras and I have a shaky voice when I have to speak in public. So stay tuned for that one!

66 comments:

Golubka said...

So so beautiful! I am always looking forward to your posts and find much inspiration in them :) I'm also in FL, so I know all about the heat. We've been fighting it with lots of ice tea and homemade ice cream. Congrats on the cooking show!

Memória said...

Your photos are always beautiful and breathtaking, but I had to comment on how splendid that second photo is. Goodness!

Fresh Local and Best said...

Indeed it has been a very hot summer! I should do the same and stop watching the heat index as well, it just drives me crazy.

I like this refreshing cold soup, it brings together wonderful summer flavors, a bit of sweetness, a splash of sunny lemon juice, and bright herbal notes.

A Plum By Any Other Name said...

I'm sure things will go just fine for you with the cooking show; the build up is always the worst with those types of things. Good for you!

Your serrano crackers look amazing. I just had some friends over for cucumber ice cream and we experimented by putting pink peppercorns on top: it was delicious! LOVE the pink peppercorn.

Anonymous said...

I was wondering if the linen napkins are Libeco?

Jennifer said...

I much like you on these hot and humid days. This soup sounds most perfect and I love the little crackers to pair with it! It must really be special for it to be on the tv show!! Im certain you will do great, cant wait to hear more about it!! :)

♥peachkins♥ said...

beautiful photos!!!

RV said...

Oh I would love to have this soup to beat this scorching summer heat. Lovely pics!!!

The Prudent Homemaker said...

How hot is it there, Arin? It was late one evening here last week when I saw two little twin girls (a little under 2 years old) in the parking lot a couple of nights ago. One turned to her dad and said, "It's hot." He responded with, "It's not hot." I got in my car and saw that it was 111º at the time, and I giggled. When you're used to the heat, it's still hot, but you know it will get hotter!

People pack ice packs around babies in car seats here to keep then from overheating. Do you do that there?

The cooking show sounds like lots of fun; congratulations!

Michael Ririe said...

As usual, the photography is spectacular. And I'm sure the food is delicious! Thanks for sharing!

Juliana said...

Beautiful as always. I love the refreshing green palette.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

A lovely soup and wonderful crackers! Sooooo scrumptious and refresing!

Cheers,

Rosa

Renata said...

I love your photos!

ibb said...

Zelako ondo! David de Jorge...ea ikusteko aukera dudan...
Zu horren onduan ez lotsatu. Gozatu eta listo.

zwischengang - intermediate course said...

perfect as always. good luck for the speaking. i'm nervous in this situation as well... have a great summer.

Anne said...

Unfortunately, it is not so hot here, but your "gaspacho" seems perfect as soon as the sun comes back!

Paula said...

looks great! delicious and so fresh!

have a nice day!
Paula

itzi said...

Vas a salir en un programa de Robin Food? Qué guay! Luego ya nos dirás cuando lo emiten para no perdérnoslo.
Besos,

The yummyblogsisters said...

wow, beautiful photos as always! (and great recipes). We love your blog!

Inés said...

Aran...oso ondo egingo duzu. David oso informala da sukaldean (sentzu onenean diñot ez fundamentogabekoa) eta aldi berean hurbila eta sinesgarria. Oso gauza bitxiak egiten ditu. Eta miresten zaitu guk zure fededunak bezala. Aran, zein ondo....eta Woman-ekoa. Aran ratxan zaude...zure mementua heldu da. Ondo merezitutakoa, bai horixe!. Nahi duzun tokira hel zaitezke...Ene ama 5 izarrekoa da zure bloga eta... Mitxelin zein Mitxelon.

Michelle said...

Congrats! That cooking show looks like tons of fun!

And don't be nervous...I have no doubt that your natural talent and innate sense of delicious, beautiful things will shine through.

zuza said...

melon soup sounds really unusual - will definitely try it. and here is a rhubarb and strawberry soup:

http://cheesy-mash.blogspot.com/2010/06/sweet-summer-soup-strawberry-and.html

zuza x

woolies said...

You may have inspired me to try my hand at a cold soup - adore melon. Thanks!

Cannelle Et Vanille said...

Anonymous- no those are not Libeco although I do love Libeco linens!

Prudent Homemaker- It is hot AND humid which for me is a deadly combination!

Ibb, Itzi, Ines- ez dakit noz emongo deurie telebistan baina abiseko zaituet! Eskerrik asko!

Thanks!

Jessie said...

Hmm...I love honeydew...it looks very yum!

I like to take pictures of the food I make too, but I'm not any good. Your pictures are amazingly beautiful. Thanks for sharing :)

Jess

Ainhoa said...

Telebistan aterako zara? Ze ondo, ez?
Noz bueltatzen zara etxera?
Ni gaur Canadan nago baina oporretako azken eguna da eta bihar etxera bueltatzen naz. Ia bertan zagozanean ikusten garan. Sorte on telebistan

Copious Couture said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Copious Couture said...

This looks so yummy... I love getting recipes from your blog! They are always so delicious! I'm doing a giveaway over at CopiousCouture, come check it out!




Carissa
http://copiouscouture.blogspot.com

Judith said...

Hi Aran,

Thanks for the link to Robin Food, I hadn't come across his program before. I've just spent a pleasurable half hour watching his program with Rafael Moreno of La Perla hotel in Pamplona - fascinating. I'll watch out for his show with you, I wonder when it will be broadcast?

Beautiful soup!!!

xxx Judith

Cannelle Et Vanille said...

Ainhoa- gu handik ibiliko gara 14etik aurrera. 3 asterako goaz!

Judith- not sure when it will air, most likely when the fall season starts. Will let you know.

Thanks!

Zia Elle said...

I love your pictures!!!!!

jodye@sendfood.wordpress.com said...

This looks like a beautiful, refreshing soup for a summer evening. A feast for the eyes as well as the mouth, I'm sure

diva in training said...

Luckily your food will speak for itself, so no worries! Good luck in recording.

elra said...

wish you all well, and the heat will be over soon :)

In my house said...

Wiiiiieee, oj vilka härliga foton, man blev sååååå sugen på färsk saftig frukt nu... jättefint!

Kram josse

El dia mas dulce " Ana" said...

Simplemente maravilloso

Portuguese Princess said...

Looks so fresh and green! And those savory crackers... omg! I am sure it tastes perfect!

angela@spinachtiger said...

The soup looks refreshing and quite peaceful. It drew me in.

becca said...

oh that looks yummy! I always think of hot and salty when I think soup, this is so refreshing!

Kitvy said...

Your post are wonderful and all the photos are amazing. Great!

Coco said...

Aran, I made this today for lunch and it tasted just as heavenly as your beautiful photographs! My garden is flowing with fresh mint so I was excited when I saw your recipe. I didn't have lemon thyme so I used some lemon verbena which added such a unique flavor! Thank you for yet another lovely dish!

Valerie said...

Aran, this post has made me fall in love with all things green! The cold soup sounds so delicious - makes me wish summer would never end!

Sally said...

This looks so yummy and refreshing!!

Dajda said...

I just love the greens. I'm sure you'll do more than fine on the show!

giulia pignatelli said...

whow.

Judith said...

Oh Aran, what have you done? I spent practically half a day yesterday browsing ETB's food programs, starting with the Hotel La Perla interview, gorrino included - the name reminded me of "Señorita Gorriño", our Spanish teacher in England, who had a house in Axpe Busturias and invited three of her students to stay when we were just 18. That was the start of my love affair with the Basque country, cut short when I moved to Madrid many years ago with my OH. I lived there for 8 years and still yearn for it! So David's summer tour starting in Gernika brought back lots of wonderful memories.

So, thanks again for the link - I'm off to see the Mugaritz programs, both before and after the fire.

xxx Judith

DolceDreams said...

This looks absolutely incredible and delicious and has cooled me off immensely...
Thank you!
Nathalie

G. said...

just stunning and congrats on the upcoming cooking show appearance, aran! you'll do fabulously and i'm sure you are so excited for your trip back home. xo.

fotographiafoodie said...

Your photos embody summer. Just lovely. Thanks.

Gabi said...

I am so intrigued by those crackers! I love to have little bites on hand that I can serve as appetizers.

What recipe did you use for those?

Tara Barker said...

Aran, I love the first photo with the scooped out melon slices! Like inverted peas in the pod!

Congrats and good luck with the show!

Cooking in Mexico said...

Looking at the photos makes me feel cooler. Green is a cooling color, I think. Thank you for the lovely photos and inspiring recipe.

Kathleen

The Comfort of Cooking said...

What a lovely recipe, and as always, your photos are to die for. One of my favorite summer treats is a juicy slice of melon, and this is a very inventive way to enjoy it!

Justin Orde said...

I'm really digging your first photo's composition. The dish itself sounds very tasty.Will book mark for future reference, a nice alternative to cucumber soup.

Stephanie said...

This just makes me happy
:)

El said...

Your photos are beautiful. Your childhood outings sound wonderful. And the weather in Florida during the summer sounds like hell. My hair couldn't take it - it would be huge... 1980's huge ;>)

Lara said...

Just gorgeous. I can feel the room cool when I look at those photos. I also have many fond memories of camping trips in the mountains with my family. That is what summer is for!

Ashley Serena said...

Just gorgeous, gorgeous food. You are so creative, and so crafty with your food. I love your recipes!

the bistro chair said...

Beautiful! absolutely stunning!

i said...

i'd love to see the recipes for the crackers! is it possible?

Valérie said...

I love your photos, they're always so peaceful... By the way I'd love to know more about the little crackers :o) Fingers crossed for you and the show !

Cannelle Et Vanille said...

i and valerie- i will share the recipe after the show airs (only fair right? :)) it's a savory shortbread with crispy serrano ham, lemon thyme and pink peppercorns.

thank you!

Torrie said...

I can't wait to see your television appearance(!!), and I don't typically link others to my own blog, but after reading about your family's camping trips... I HAD to share this, of us 'sitting, looking around, & eating melon wedges' :). http://torriesessions.blogspot.com/2010/07/wine-country-heart.html

The yummyblogsisters said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Athenes Kiss said...

I just LOVE your photos, your style, your recipes and your blog's name 'cause I'm fond of vanilla & cinnamon.
And I'm french.
So, good job, I'm a fan !

Anonymous said...

preciosas fotos y comentarios, gracias Aran!!!