Tomato Soup

Tomato soup is a favorite of most people, so I figured why not post a great recipe that I like to use.  What makes it stand out to is that i roast the tomatoes with garlic and basil before adding them to the soup.  Roasting the tomatoes gives the a great fullness of flavor that is perfect on  a cold day.   As always tomato soup perfectly compliments a grilled cheese sandwich, but instead of just plain cheddar, make the sandwich using smoked Gouda, add tomato slices and a touch of honey mustard, the combination is out of this world and sets a new standard for grilled cheese sandwiches.

Enjoy

1 1/2 lb Roma tomatoes, halved

1 onion, peeled and quartered,

1//4 cup whole garlic cloves

6 cup vegetable or chicken stock

2 tablespoons of fresh basil

1 tablespoon of fresh thyme

olive oil

salt and pepper to season

1. Preheat the oven to 375º

2. Mix together the tomatoes, onion, garlic,  and basil and lightly coat the mixture with olive oil

3. Season with a little salt and pepper and place in the oven about 25 minutes or until the tomatoes are tender

4. Next add all the ingredients into a pot and add the stock.

5. Slowly  bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer

6. Cook for about 10 minutes

7. Using a hand mixer or blender*, puree the soup until it becomes smooth

8 Taste and give one final seasoning

* Be very careful when putting any hot liquids into a blender, puree it in very small batches.

To make this soup a little bit richer add 1/2 cup of heavy cream after pureeing