But this is a much better way to enjoy fruit in the morning. It's kind of like a smoothie, except this is meant for a leisurely morning savored slowly, seated at a breakfast table and sipped with a spoon instead of a straw.

At the Bloomsbury Inn, this is the first course in a three part breakfast.  Yes, their morning includes an appetizer, entree and dessert.  Isn't that divine?  Though this is the first course, it could certainly be dessert for me.

Kathleen, Innkeeper at the Bloomsbury, said that she finds it to be a challenge to find new, exciting, unique fruit options.  (I need to send her a link to my hot pink fruit breakfast!  That one wasn't just unique, it was funky!) Her cold fruit soup recipe is definitely a fun and different way of adding fruit to your morning meal.

Let's get started with cooking.  Or in this case, I should say mixing.  I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with how simple this is to put together.

Notice that I picked "fat free" yogurt, "light" whipped cream and "lite" peaches and placed them right next to the "heavy" whipping cream.

Ha!

The recipe Kathleen gave me leaves the option open for choosing the fruit.  From berries to mango and even honeydew.  But I decided to have a peachy morning since it's the state fruit for South Carolina.

Unfortunately, peaches are not in season at the moment, so I used canned.  But you better believe I'm going to try this recipe again in the spring with some fresh peaches.

Next the sugar ... or how my Carolina relatives would say ... "shugah."

Next, a couple of dollops of yogurt.  The recipe calls for 6 ounces.  I had a big 'ole tub of it ... but figured that 6 ounces was equivalent to about 6 spoonfuls.  If you use vanilla bean yogurt, the extract is optional and probably not necessary unless you want a stronger vanilla flavor.

A dash of cinnamon.

Blend. Chill.

Serve and enjoy!

Bloomsbury Cold Fruit Soup

from the Bloomsbury Inn, Camden South Carolina

Total preparation time: 15 minutes, plus chilling time
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

2 cups fruit (peach, cantaloupe, honeydew, mango…any one of these works well…fresh is better, but canned or frozen will work when well drained)

½ cup sugar (sugar to taste depending upon natural sweetness of fruit)

1  (6 oz) vanilla bean yogurt

1 tsp vanilla extract if you use plain yogurt (extract flavor based upon fruit:  vanilla, cinnamon, rum)

¼ cup heavy cream (add cream to determine consistency desired)

1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

If you are using fresh fruit, carefully clean, peal, and place in the blender.  Add all remaining ingredient and blend until smooth. Chill for at least 8 hours.  Garish with whipping cream, candied/sweet-flavored nuts, fresh mint or whole fruit slices.  Serve very cold.

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As much as I'd like to have a hot cup of coffee or cocoa outside on my deck, that usually only happens inside with the air cranked up.  These simple little drinks are much better for Florida fall weather.  Or summer.  Or spring.  What the heck, Florida really only has one season, right?

I actually dreamed up this recipe one morning when we had some friends over and I took a look in my fridge to see what kind of cool late-morning smoothie I could whip up to calm the sweat on our brow from an outdoor photo shoot.

Here's what you'll need ... very simple ... a bag of frozen peaches ... whole milk or cream (cream makes it more rich) ... vanilla ... and mint.

You could choose to use fresh peaches ... if so ... add about 2 cups of ice.

Real simple.  Throw it all into a blender ...

About a cup of milk ...

A cap full of vanilla ...

And then blend.

If you want it to be more sweet, you could add a 1/2 Cup of sugar.

If you want it to be more relaxing, you could add some champagne.

(I actually did in our second batch!)

But just as-is you'll find it  is light and refreshing.

Relax. Refresh. Recharge.  Repeat.

These are kind of rich with the milk or cream, so I would suggest serving in a smaller glass than a standard 18 ounce smoothie.

Peaches & Cream Morning Smoothie

Ingredients

1 bag of frozen peaches

1 Cup whole milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

mint to garnish

Optional:

1/2 Cup sugar

1 Cup champagne

Directions

Add ingredients to blender and mix well.  Serve chilled.  Makes approx. 6 servings.

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