Minted Green Pea and Buttermilk Soup is 120 calories per serving. If you’re on the Gold Standard Plan, use it with a half sandwich or your favorite open faced “something” on rye. 
This soup is served chilled.
Ingredients for 8 servings:
2 tsp. olive oil
1 cup finely chopped sweet onion such as Vidalia
1 1/2 lbs. frozen green peas (of shelled fresh)
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint and extra for garnish
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
4 cups fat-free reduced sodium vegetable broth
2 cups low-fat buttermilk
Heat oil in a Dutch oven and saute onions until softened. Add peas, mint, parsley, and broth, stirring. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer. Partially cover, cooking for 20 minutes. Working in batches, puree in a blender until smooth. Press soup through a sieve, discarding fibers. (You don’t have to do this step, but I’m presenting the classic French pea soup here. Personally, I like country style.) Add buttermilk to soup (whether strained or not) plus salt-pepper or Mrs Dash seasonings. Chill. Serve each bowl with a sprig of mint.
Chatting with Kathleen Rowland 
Friends and neighbors, about fifteen years ago, I went on a diet that had just one tablespoon of fat per day. My skin became dry and itchy. I’ve learned so much since then about the many ways our bodies benefit from good fats. My daughters (Marla and Janice) whose skin is gorgeous puts 1/4 avocado in their sandwiches.
The chilled soup sounds delicious, Kathleen. I know what you mean about diets that don’t include good fats. By the way, Rob and I have two foster kids (two boys, ages 8 and 11) that are moving in with us this weekend!
This is very exciting!!! What are you going to be doing when they arrive?
We didn’t want to overwhelm them right away with a big shopping trip, mostly because we were told that they have problems making decisions. They are used to getting what they get, often used clothing. Knowing their sizes, Rob went to Old Navy and bought the basics including swim trunks. We’ll take them shoe shopping, but then head to the pool where we’ll have a barbeque.
Just wondering if the boys know how to swim.
Probably just a little which is why we will bring noodles!
Mary Alice, you sound knowledgeable. Hope all goes well.
Thanks, Bob. We are not expecting things to go perfectly. The boys will probably test their limits and drive us nuts. We are prepared with just a few simple rules. We don’t want them to be overwhelmed with us either.
Mary Alice, it is good that the boys are arriving when school is still in session. That way, they’ll make some friends.
The boys, Jake and older brother Max, want to go to summer camp. It isn’t heavy competitive sports but more of an artsy-crafsy with nature activities on the water camp. Janessa, we’re glad they will be going to school, as you said, before summer.
Mary Alice, what rules have you set for Jake and Max?
Well, we expect some flub-ups, of course, and the rules just serve to move them in a positive direction– keeping their stuff relatively organized and neat, taking turns with us doing dishes, 1 hour of TV on school days and 2 hours on the week end unless it’s a sports game, and taking a shower every day, brushing teeth twice a day and flossing.
Oh, I forgot– doing their assigned homework!
I’m impressed. You have the ground rules laid out. You and Rob are loving people.
Kathleen, we are sooooo looking forward to having Jake and Max move in.
Mary Alice, I hope you don’t mind me asking– are Jake and Max available for permanent adoption?
I’m here, waiting for Mary Alice’s answer!
Mary Alice is at work. However, I just phoned her, and she said yes!