One of the simplest and most refreshing soups of summer, this tangy, creamy mix is very low in calories and is packed with healthful ingredients. It is coolness itself. Take a berry-picking picnic, and use berries you pick yourself for unbeatable freshness.

Berry-Picking Picnic
There are those who enjoy picking a berry or two on a nice day and there are those who become compulsive about it. Being of the latter sort, I feel obliged to find ways to make the outing enjoyable for others. This isn’t difficult when we pick a sunny Sunday at the height of summer and pack a picnic, beach chairs, and the Sunday paper.

Most berry patches that I know require at least a short hike. This picnic offers a variety of activities and appeals to all ages and dispositions, provided the hike is not too strenuous for the very young or the nonathletic. When you arrive at the chosen spot with a bit of shade and lots of sun, the pickers head for the berry patch and the others stretch out leisurely to read the paper or snooze.

Wine Suggestions
Try an organic Chardonnay, such as from our sponsor, Frey Vineyards..

What Else to Take
For the Food
o Containers for berries
o Water and a strainer for washing berries
o Knives and cutting boards for bread and cheese
Extras
o Bouquet of wildflowers
o Insulated bag
o Beach chairs

Cold Berry Soup
One of the simplest and most refreshing soups of summer, this tangy, creamy mix is very low in calories and is packed with healthful ingredients. It is coolness itself. Use the berries you picked for unbeatable freshness.

3 cups buttermilk
3 cups orange juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice
dash ground cinnamon
dash ground nutmeg
1 cup washed fresh berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries,blackberries, or any combination)

1. Whisk together the buttermilk, orange juice, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl and chill the soup thoroughly.

2. Pour into a large thermos bottle and put into your pack. Place the berries in a resealable plastic bag and put into the pack. Serve the soup in cups and divide the berries among the cups.
Serves 8

Tip: Don’t count on a clean, babbling brook near the berry patch. Even if there is one, I advise against drinking the water. Bring along a strainer and plenty of water for washing the berries. They may be just fine, but they also might be dusty from rainstorms.