Chilled Fruit-Champagne Soup with Crystallized Ginger

Ingredients

• 2 Fuji apples, peeled, cored and roughly chopped
• 1 ripe yet firm peach, pitted and roughly chopped
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons shredded fresh mint leaves
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 cup extra-dry or demi-sec Champagne
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger

Directions

In a 2-quart heavy pot, combine the apples, peach, water, sugar, lemon juice, orange juice, 1/4 cup mint leaves and lemon zest. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium low, and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.

Remove from the heat and puree with an immersion blender, or in batches in a blender.(Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Transfer to a clean container and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours.

Stir the Champagne into the soup. Ladle into 6 small, chilled bowls, and garnish each with a teaspoon of mint and a teaspoon of chopped crystallized ginger. Serve immediately, either as a first course or a dessert.