SoupPalooza Part 4 – Creamy Homemade Tomato Soup

Here on our At Home with GCH  blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  We are continuing to celebrate soup, soup, and soup since this is National Soup Month!  Each week we will explore soup basics sometimes along with a bonus recipe for you to serve to your loved ones.

This week we are making Creamy Homemade Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons. Such a comfort food and indulgence!  The way we manage to stay within our ‘healthy’ parameters is that this soup contains evaporated milk instead of heavy cream.  Using evaporated milk saves approximately 80 calories AND 12 grams of fat (yes, you read that right!) in each serving.  All the yummy creaminess…and now—since you have kept the soup lower in calories—you can thoroughly indulge in those grilled cheese croutons; oh my!

Creamy Homemade Tomato Soup

1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped small
1 Tablespoon chopped garlic (I use jarred)
1 Tablespoon dried basil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups broth
1 cup red wine, or additional cup of broth
1 can crushed tomatoes (28 ounces)
1 can tomato puree (28 ounces)
1 small jar of roasted red peppers, chopped small, optional
1 portion homemade condensed tomato soup (see recipe below)
1 can evaporated milk

In a medium-sized saucepan (4 quarts or so), melt butter and olive oil together over medium heat.  Add chopped onion and saute for 5 minutes until softened and transparent.  Add garlic and basil; cook for 1 minute stirring continuously.  Pour in red wine to deglaze pan; then add broth, all tomato products (also roasted red peppers, if you are using them) and salt & pepper.  Stir really well.  Bring up to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally, making sure to mix up from the bottom.  Carefully taste for seasoning, adding if necessary. Finally, add in evaporated milk and heat through.  Keep warm.

Another aspect of this recipe that fulfills our healthy but oh-so-yummy needs is the homemade condensed soup.  You know… just like in the can BUT no wheat, no additives, no un-pronounceable ingredients, no high fructose corn syrup!  So easy and quick to pull together!

Homemade “Condensed” Tomato Soup

8 ounces tomato puree or sauce
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

In a small saucepan over low-medium heat, stir all ingredients together.  Bring just up to a boil, reduce heat to very low and simmer for 2-3 minutes.  Ready to use!

OK!

Now the part that (some of you!) have been waiting for…Grilled Cheese Croutons!  Actually, no recipe 🙂 Prepare your most incredible, delicious, gooey grilled cheese sammies!  You choose the bread (I would suggest cutting off the crusts!)…you choose the cheese!  Make sure that they are really nicely crunchy and toasted! Let them cool for just a minute or two, and cut up into small squares.  Serve alongside the soup…toss them in as you go because you wouldn’t want them to get soggy!  Comfort food that is healthy but oh-so-yummy !

God loves you!  ♥ (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥ coleen

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this series, you may email her at:  Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com