Tomato Basil Soup

 

Tis the season for fresh tomatoes and basil, so what better to make a fresh soup than tomatoes and basil. Even though it's hot outside, it's never too hot for tomato basil soup and crusty garlic bread. You can also make and either freeze it or can it to enjoy during the colder months. So let's make some Tomato Basil Soup. 

Ingredient: 

2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 large onion, should make 1 cup chopped onion

4 large cloves of garlic should make 2 tbsp when chopped or 2 tbsp of prechopped garlic

1 tbsp salt

2 tsp pepper

2-3 lbs toma tomatoes, should be 8 cups once chopped 

5cups vegetable stock 

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

2 bay leaves

1 cup chopped fresh basil

1 cup heavy cream

3 tbsp cornstarch

3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan or romano cheese

Directions: 

Blanch peeled and quartered tomatoes in boiling water for 5 minutes. Then remove the tomatoes from the water and let cool. Then peel the skin and discard the seeds. Cut in half and hold aside. 

In a Dutch oven place over medium heat and add oil and heat up for one minute. Add onions and saute for 5 minutes until onions are translucent, then add garlic and continue to cook for another minute. Add your salt, pepper, tomatoes, stock, vinegar, and bay leaves, stir to mix, and bring to a boil over high heat for 5 minutes then turn down and cook on low heat for a little over 30 minutes or so. Stir every once in a while. Remove the bay leaf and puree the mixture until completely smooth. In a measuring cup mix together cornstarch and heavy cream until the cornstarch is dissolved completely. Cut up the basil and add the basil and cornstarch mixture to the soup and stir completely. You can add in the cheese and the rest of the heavy cream and let simmer for 20 minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed then serve with crusty garlic bread. Enjoy 

Artist and Author Elizabeth Kilbride is a former political operative, author, scriptwriter, historian, and journalist. business professional, creative artist, and life coach consultant. Ms. Kilbride holds a Master's in Criminology and a BS in Business Management she stepped out of the loop for a while but is now back with a powerful opinion and voice in the direction of this country and our economy. As a life coach, she is available to counsel individuals to enjoy their dreams and a better life. Ms. Kilbride loves to travel, and photograph her surroundings and is also a gourmet cook who loves to garden and preserve food for the winter months.