This time of the year is a hectic time and is also a time where people tend to watch what they eat in preparation for the Christmas time indulgence. Whenever I entertain I take all these points into consideration and most often I entertain using healthy food options, avoid creams and fatty foods, avoid frying totally, use fresh products, opt for fish rather than meat and reduce sugar.

Occassionally on this blog I will be sharing my menus. Today is one such day. Today friends were coming over to exchange Christmas presents so I asked them to join us for a light supper. I wanted everything to be as low in calories as possible and healthy. This is what I opted for:

Light Pea Soup served with a small teaspoonful of sour cream
Smoked Salmon platter (smoked salmon with a small timbale of rikotta mixed with a touch of blue cheese and rolled in parsley)
Prawns cooked in a garlic and kunserva mix with very little water (this is so easy to cook - the result is a light bisque)
Platter of local produce which included some white gbejniet, bigilla, sun dried tomatoes, galletti, artichoke hearts (not the ones in oil).
Platter of local produce which included some white gbejniet, bigilla, sun dried tomatoes, galletti, artichoke hearts (not the ones in oil).
Cherry tomoato and lettuce salad with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar

The pea soup I chose is light because it is not made with the dried version or with potatoes. 

Ingredients (for 4)

4 shallots
olive oil
800g frozen peas
1 litre water
salt and pepper
croutons if desired or a touch of sour cream

Method

Thaw and rinse the frozen peas.
Saute the onions in one teaspoon of olive oil for about 3 minutes, stirring.
Add the peas and water and season with salt and pepper.
Cover and simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.
When peas are tender, pick them up with the help of a perforated ladle into a food processor.
You need to do this as if you put in the liquid and peas altogether, they cannot be processed.
Once all peas are pureed add to the water you had cooked the peas in and stir to bring together.

Serve with homemade croutons or a teaspoon of sour cream in each plate.

So easy, so quick and so light.

This can also be done with fresh peas