Roasted Tomato Soup

This is a combo soup recipe. You know how you love to dunk grilled cheese sandwich's in your tomato soup? Well, have I got one for you. The croutons on this soup are Grilled Cheese Croutons!!! I will include the recipe for them also.

Ingredients for Soup:

6 cups cherry tomatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves minced
1 cup chopped onion
1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 cup whipping cream

Directions:

Heat the oven to 400 . On a baking sheet, combine the cherry tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and the salt and pepper . Toss the ingredients to coat evenly and spread them in a single layer. Roast the tomatoes until they are shriveled with brown spots about 35 -45 minutes.

In a large pot,heat the butter and the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and saute until softened about 6 minutes. Add the canned tomatoes with their juice,the broth, the thyme and the roasted tomatoes,including any liquid on the baking sheet. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered for 40 minutes.

Using a food processor or blender, puree the soup until it's smooth. Return it to the pot and stir in cream. Without letting the soup boil,warm it over medium heat,stirring often until steaming .

Grilled Cheese Croutons

Ingredients

1/4 cup softened unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon thyme
6 thin slices of bread
3 ounces cheddar thinly sliced

Directions

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. In a small bowl, combine the butter and thyme. Spread one side of each bread slice with the butter mixture. Place 3 slices in the pan, buttered side down. Top with the cheese,then with the remaining 3 bread slices, buttered side up. Cook turning once, until toasted on both sides.

Remove and cool and cut them into 1 inch squares. And then you know what to do with them !!!

Celeste-- If you like tomato soup , this one is for you