The summer of Tomato Soup

I love soup all year long not just in the winters. During the summers I barely cook…I lose all the weight in the summer months then when it gets cold I hibernate. This summer I tried my hands at making Tomato Soup which is my favorite. I use to buy the can but I decided to try and make an easier version that didn’t involve a lot of cans. This is how I make my easy tomato soup recipe.

Easy Tomato Soup Recipe

1 medium white or yellow onion
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter
Two 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
One 46-ounce bottle or can tomato juice
3 to 6 tablespoons sugar
3 chicken bouillon cubes
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

You should have most of the ingredients in your pantry. The sugar is to cut down the tartness of the tomato. For the heavy cream, I use lactose-free half and half as a substitute because we are lactose around here. I use the basil seasoning and the parsley seasoning because sometimes I don’t always get to the store to get fresh parsley.

Saute the butter and onions in a dutch oven pot. Once that is melted dump your diced tomatoes in there.  Stir then add in your tomato juice. Make sure you don’t forget to add the sugar how much depends on you. The bouillon cubes are next (I had a hard time finding those in the store never used them before). Make sure you season with salt and pepper I know the directions only call for pepper but add a little salt in there. (I also add garlic powder and a dash of Worchester sauce) Stir everything and let it heat almost to a boil. Turn the heat off and add your heavy cream, basil, and parsley.

I add croutons on top and I also make grilled cheese to go with it. You can make a grilled cheese like this one or you can just make a grilled cheese using smoked gouda. This is a quick meal that is great on busy weeknights. My son doesn’t eat the soup but he will eat the grilled cheese my daughter loves the soup.

What’s your favorite soup? Do you eat soup in the summer?