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Avocado, Cucumber and Sorrel Soup

Avocado, Cucumber and Sorrel Soup 

It's a beautiful sunny June bank holiday here in Dublin and despite the recent cucumber scare I decided to make a cucumber soup. There are five soups in The Soup Book requiring cucumber and this recipe by Sophie Grigson calls for "a ripe, buttery avocado, ... a generous handful of sorrel leaves", a quarter of a large cucumber, Greek yoghurt and garlic.  I'm still not sure what exactly a handful is, generous or otherwise, but I seemed to have enough sorrel in the front garden for this soup. It has continued growing since my last raid.There is no cooking involved in this soup: just blending. The mix turns out a rich shade of green and is very tasty. The younger offspring like it but couldn't finish his portion. Cold soups are an acquired taste, but a taste definitely worth acquiring.


Blooms and Buzzes 

The spouse and I are planning to go to Bloom 2011 tomorrow. I mentioned in my last blog entry that the County Dublin Beekeepers' Association is hosting a stand there. On the subject of beekeepers' associations, a family member sent me a link to the Northamptonshire Beekeepers' Association. I looked at the list of the officers and was quite taken with the title "swarm liaison officer." Which reminds me that yesterday afternoon I heard Philip McCabe on the radio, asking people to let him know if they come across any swarms here in Ireland. But what does a swarm liaison officer do?

Yesterday I heard about The Open Garden Trail, a series of fund-raising events in aid of the Blackrock Hospice. You can visit the gardens of twelve suburban houses in south Co Dublin and Co Wicklow. The first event took place this afternoon in a garden not too far from where I live. I made the younger offspring bring his boisterous pals to the nearby public park while I went to the garden. It was lovely - very well groomed and tended, and best kept protected from a gang of energetic eleven-year-olds. The owners keep their herbs in pots along a wall. I spotted sorrel and lovage, as well as oregano, marjoram, lemon balm, mint, thyme, parsley, etc. I thought to myself that if I had the time, my garden would look better. Maybe I'm only fooling myself as I most often view gardening as additional housework.

Idleness beckons irresistibly so I'll finish now with these lines from Isaac Watts that are quoted on the Northamptonshire Beekeepers' Association website:


HOW doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower! 
 
(From "Against Idleness and Mischief" in Divine Songs for Children, by Isaac Watts)
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