Melon Soup Experiment

I'm pretty sure I was a kitty or a Chihuahua in my previous life because I love basking in the sun. If it's ever under 65 degrees, that is too cold for me--and you wonder how I ever lived in Boston?!?! But with the heat our apartment gets very warm and, even though I love it, my husband doesn't! To keep him cool I experimented with this cold soup. There is no cooking required and it does cool your body down a bit. The soup is quite refreshing and it smells really good. You will need a food processor or a blender for this.

INGREDIENTS (serves 4)

• 1 cantaloupe, peeled, seeded and cut into 1" pieces
• 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into 1" pieces
• 4 or 5 mint leaves
• 1/2 cup half and half
• kosher salt
• ground black pepper
• 1 large pinch of chili powder (optional)
• fresh, ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup cold water
• Crème fraiche or sour cream

In a food processor or blender add the cantaloupe, a pinch of kosher salt, and a large pinch of ground nutmeg, and blend until you get a soupy mixture. It will not be completely smooth. Pour the mixture into a large bowl and set aside. In the same food processor or blender (no need to clean it), add the cucumber pieces, mint leaves, a pinch of salt, a pinch of black pepper and 1/4 cup cold water. Blend until you get a soupy mixture. Add this into the bowl with the cantaloupe soup. Mix to combine and add the half and half and a pinch of chili powder, if using. Finally, working in batches, add the soup mixture back into the blender and try to puree until almost smooth. Keep tasting and add more salt or pepper, if needed. Pour it back into the bowl and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Serve soup in bowls and add a dollop of crème fraiche and more fresh nutmeg and enjoy.