The bright red leaves are almost gone on our beautiful silver maple in the front yard, and the temperatures have been teasing their way toward freezing for the last week or so.
I’m prone to developing the winter blues, so to avoid spending the next several months in fetal position in the corner, I’ve tried to focus on the fun things about the season: warm fuzzy socks, flannel sheets and fabulous food.
While I was delightedly browsing soups, stews and crock pot creations, hubs spoke up and said he’d really like some tomato soup and grilled cheese.
Now, he’d probably be happy with Campbell’s out of a can and a couple of pieces of Wonderbread with a slice of American slapped in between, but I had other ideas. Ideas that involved fresh basil, and cream, and roasted tomatoes. Ideas that called for rich smoked cheese and fresh crusty bread.
Ideas brought to fruition with the help of Tastespotting, which led me to SpoonForkBacon.
Go on, look. It’s drool-worthy. The recipes are fresh and easily recreated, the food styling is enticing and the photography is gorgeous.
I decided to try the Creamy Roasted Tomato and Basil Soup and made a couple of small adjustments to fit the contents of my pantry. I paired it with some grilled cheese sandwiches made with Smoked Gruyère and just a touch of mustard, and we all sat around dipping crusty, cheesy goodness into the rich soup and watching the Chiefs endure an ugly beating from the Dolphins.
I like to think the men were crying because the food was so good, and not because it was such a devastatingly sad game.
Creamy Roasted Tomato & Basil Soup
Serves 4
10 Roma tomatoes, sliced lengthwise
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp butter
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tbsp dried thyme
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
2 cups fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
2 tbsp dried basil
1 tbsp sugar
2 cups chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
2/3 cup heavy cream
Drizzle tomatoes with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and bake at 375 degrees for about an hour.
Sauté onion in butter until the bits begin to brown. Add garlic and thyme, sauté for another couple of minutes.
Add the can of tomatoes, dried and fresh basil and sugar. Lower heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
Add broth and roasted tomatoes, cover and continue to simmer for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Carefully transfer soup to blender (or use an immersion blender) and blend until smooth.
*Pro Tip: Don’t fill the blender to the top then blend on high unless you like tomato-spattered walls.
Pour the soup back into the pot and slowly stir in the cream. Continue stirring over low heat for five minutes. Ladle into bowls and serve with Grilled Gruyère Sandwiches.
Grilled Gruyère Sandwiches
1 loaf good, thick-cut white bread
8 oz Smoked Gruyère
½ cup yellow mustard
1 stick butter
Grate the cheese. Try not to eat it all before it ends up in the sandwiches.
Butter one side of the bread. Spread a small amount of mustard over the other side and place on a griddle set to low heat, butter side down. Sprinkle cheese over the mustard, top with another slice of bread, buttered on top. Turn when the bread reaches a dark, golden brown.
Slice in half and serve.
Mamamash 
I rarely post food stuff because its practically impossible for me to remember the picture taking part.
I just realized that sounded very random…. Thank you for posting this. It looks very yummy and I am loving the comfort food that comes with colder weather. =)
You crack me up, Denae. The picture taking can be a little silly, but I’m used to it now!
Nom nom!!! I want to live with you.
Our Monkeys would have a blast together, that’s for sure. 😉
Your hubby is a very lucky man. So is Monkey.
G, he totally went and made a Spam salad yesterday evening. Can you believe that? So gross.
I’ve never tried tomato soup before but I keep hearing people say it’s good. Perhaps I should try it….
And you call yourself American. Harumph. 😉
Your food thinking reminds me of my husband’s type of food thinking. I too would have been happy with soup out of a can and the old fashioned grilled cheese, but he would have been like you, gettin all fancy. I’ll have to refer him to those sites you mention.
Before kids I was prone to the winter blues too. I seem to suffer a little less now that I am forced outdoors with the kids.
The fancy stuff makes it seem like a meal at a restaurant and saves me the $$ I’d spend eating out. I love restaurants but hate the bill!
I’m hoping we can take Monkey out in the snow this year and I won’t feel so trapped.
Aww – you’re photo matches your background!
It’s so weird because I adore tomatoes in every form except tomato soup. Your photos and recipe look amazing though!
You have the most ridiculous taste if food. If you weren’t so darn sweet and funny I’d throw mashed potatoes at you. 😛
I kid.
Oh, and if you are going to call me Juliet, I’m going to start calling you Suzanne Whang.
Oh I love tomato and basil soup! I need to make this—perfect for the fall 🙂
Hurry! It’s almost winter. 😉
Wait…is this what you made and then your husband wanted spam salad??
Yes! RIGHT?! WTF?
You know how I love a grilled cheese!!! I wish my armpits smelled like grilled cheese. I made a homemade tomato soup not long ago, but it was a little lackluster. I will definitely try this out!!!
I have this picture in my head now of you wiping grilled cheese under your pits then smelling them like that weird SNL girl.
So yummy! I make tomato-basil soup for my six-man crew, but without all of that delicious cream. Obviously, one or two things need to change around here!
The cream makes it so much richer! And then you dip the crusty, cheesy sandwiches in it and nearly pass out from the goodness.
Oh. My. GOD.
Drooling.
I wish you were my neighbor.
YUM! B was asking for tomato basil soup last week. I told him I’d find a recipe. Ta-da!!
We’re still drooling over last week’s Monday Meal. It was SO good.
Mmm, tomato soup! My favorite!
–You are Freaking Super MOM!
Damn You. X
Oh my word. This looks utterly delicious. I LOVE creamy tomato soup, like the kind they have at Panera. And my mom had it when we were at Perkins for the party. YUM. You have two lucky men in your house.
Oh, hello delicious. This looks absolutely fan-freaking-tastic! I get the winter blues too, but soup definitely helps, right?
This looks delicious! I love tomato soup and a grilled sandwich – especially with gruyere. And I just got lost in that spoonforkbacon site.
Alright, we are definitely soul sisters! I LOVE this recipe and the fact that you used Gruyere for the sandwiches sounds delectable. I will definitely be using this recipe and SpoonForkBacon to chase the winter gloomies away!
I’ve never made roasted tomatoes, but this is the second time I’ve heard about them today. It’s a cosmic sign that I need them in my life. Num!
Delco will testify as the lawyer’s forensic expert for
Finley. It’s easy to tell some apps were rushed out the door in order to
arrive on day one. After setting up this type of system, each
door will have its own transmitter, resulting in a different ringtone.
There are multiple pressure sensors within the board so it is
capable of determining your center of balance and can detect what direction you are leaning in and how hard.
Ralph realizes the hunters have let the fire go out.
Tanita bathroom scales are extremely good in achieving the following purpose.
The Tanita brand may be leading the market for several years now
concerning producing scales that produce very accurate results.
These bed scales allow recording the weights of the
patient with least effort and discomfort. One weekend she did us the
“favor” of throwing out a potted Amaryllis bulb; I rescued it just
in time from the rubbish, but not before we argued as to whether there was anything actually growing in that pot of bone dry dirt under the pantry
cabinets.
Very few Google algorithm updates are completely without warning.
Don’t try to do everything immediately as you have to wait a week for Traffic Travis to do another site check
anyway. But the benefits of the solar window film don’t stop there
the window film also strengthens the windows in the conservatory
by adding an extra layer of protection to the glass which makes the glass and roofing harder to
smash or shatter.
Some decorative pillow companies are run by large corporations,
but others are run by artists out of their own homes.
Its chemical composition in order to Si – O2, Al2O3, K2O,
Na2O, Mn2O3, S2O3, etc. On the other hand, granite and marble are also noteworthy options to consider especially if you have plans on having grand-looking design for your
fireplace.
That is a very good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Simple but very precise information… Many thanks for sharing this one. A must read post!|
glowing lean system login https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J4vDfufttU
I know this website offers quality based articles or reviews and additional information, is
there any other website which offers such stuff in quality?
But the i – Pad is going to be a great addition to the family.
Again the IC 555 runs in the astable mode, creating flashing pulses at frequencies set by R1 and C1.
Remember to keep a record of the business and the number for future reference.
After you have passed your test, you can enrol on a Pass Plus course that
takes you through 6 specially designed training sessions
including:. Whether you are an experienced driver or a newbie, joining
a driving school in Seattle will be of benefit to you.
t have asked for a kinder and more understanding instructor.
In your area, the temperatures may not be as low as to make the lily bulb “go to sleep” naturally and vernalize,
cooling period which prompts the lily plant to bloom again. These Lord of
the Flies chapter summaries free your brain from having to figure out what happens and allows it to
examine why it happened. Health and fitness are more important for most
of us than the beauty standards that society imposes upon us.
As a matter of fact, there are sensors which
are essentially used for overload alerts.
Typically you need to actually know what you are doing in order to get an accurate and reliable measurement.
Another problem with referring to charts that offer average weight ranges is that many people
strive to attain the lowest weight within in the range.
However, inside a 48 hour period Lynn’s condition degenerated in orderr
that I took her to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro where they declared her
mentally incompetent and placed the law outside her door.
It may well be one of thhe most difficult what you should
purchase. I have also been very conscious of only a couple
of blocks clear of me, were Stemberg’s new Staples offices.
Workers utilize these credit cards to punch began this morning aand out and also
a report is naturally let go of for review. Pastt that it
truly is a case of what number of cards you should print out
at once. Because of big donations to Israel, thre was clearly a statue of her father-in- law inn Haifa.
Long range wireless doorbells and wireless doorbells have almost exactly the same functions except a long range doorbell can transmit
messages from over 150 ft from the receiver. Again the IC 555 runs in the astable mode, creating flashing pulses
at frequencies set by R1 and C1. Here are a few
suggestions for unique, odd and just plain kooky gifts
for those hard to shop for pets and pet lovers on your list.
Serbia is a country that once was a part of Yugoslavia, and it is
situated in Southern Europe. But before you envision parka
wetsuits and neoprene mukluks, it bears mentioning that Vancouver Island
enjoys one of the most temperate climates in the country.
With jagged coastlines, sandy beaches and lush, mist-shrouded forests, Vancouver
Island’s west coast looks more like a scene from a fantasy movie than anything else – if
of course, the fantasy movie had wicked big waves.
All back with our Stellar Lifetime Warranty that’s transferable from builders to home-owners.
Suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering the front door window panel.
A mesh pocket on the exterior of the bed accommodates a tee
shirt or shorts and provides optimal air circulation that allows the dog to easily detect the owner’s calming, familiar scent.
I really like what you guys are usually up too. Such clever work and exposure!
Keep up the awesome works guys I’ve included you guys to my blogroll.
Long range wireless doorbells and wireless doorbells have almost exactly the same functions except a long range doorbell
can transmit messages from over 150 ft from the receiver. This is a great alternative to the traditional door bell set up, as installation of multiple pushbuttons for multiple doors can be coordinated with
multiple receivers for larger houses or buildings
that may call for many receivers. In the past, homeowners of large homes were often forced to accept wired doorbells because of limited frequency ranges of wireless
doorbells.
IR night vision The door bell phone support IR night vision. This
is a great alternative to the traditional door bell set up,
as installation of multiple pushbuttons for multiple doors
can be coordinated with multiple receivers for larger houses or buildings that may call for many
receivers. Although the wireless doorbell is not perfect, many
people have found it to be exactly what they are looking for in terms of performance quality and functionality.
You would need to take a bus or get a ride
from a friend or rent a car. You also have service apartments Belgrade for both short and long term stays.
The most famous pictures of the canyon were taken here.
Instead of stating, “I am a effective *** looking for a person. Thus, several Asian females like Japanese females usually hide their teeth when they smile or laugh so that they can avoid any sort of rude behavior on their part. Michelle Obama is a perfect example of a dark-skinned woman who is phenomenally beautiful.
Remember, antioxidants are great at helping to remove some of the toxins from our body.
For the apply of yoga, it is endorsed to dress in stretchable yoga pants for women. These are wonderful if you feel confident enough
but should you want more cover then go for a nicely fitted yoga vest.
Have an accountability partner who will pray with you
and give you wise counsel. Not only will you be capable to avail of the many advantages of yoga,
you will also help save a considerable volume of income. Pajama pants typically have
a bright pattern, a relaxed cut, and possibly thin fabric.
When you have enough information on you then you can not only get hold of
a professional hair transplant surgeon but also have your hair transplant done in a cost effective manner.
The deeper wound risked cutting fascia, or larger nerves and blood vessels,
increasing the morbidity of the procedure. Unfortunately, the “Japanese insight” was lost to us
during World War II and when we tried to “re-invent the wheel,” we did it
wrong.
The 3G standards have been classified into three parts – W-CDMA which means ‘Wideband – Code Division Multiple Access’.
95) looks like a pen but works like a mouse ‘ without taking up a coveted USB port.
Gramin Asus is a smartphone with the intention of from T-Mobile manufactured on Android.
Push the box back in place, secure the screws
and install the end panel. In hermetically sealed compressor,
in one side of the enclosed casing the various
parts of the compressor like cylinder, piston, connecting rod and the crankshaft are located.
2) The whole condenser unit of the refrigeration or the air conditioning unit comprising of the condenser and the compressor can be
moved easily from one place to the other.
This site was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something that helped me.
Thanks!