An Amazing Tomato Soup Recipe

You probably don't know this about me but I do like to cook, in spite of all of the whining about having to make dinner. I'm not too bad at it either when I put some effort into it. And, just like I live the rest of my life, I don't follow the recipe's very well. In fact, I don't use them at all. Words that strike fear in my family's hearts is "I'm not sure what we're having. I'm making it up". Run for the hills!!!

As bad as this sounds, what I make usually tastes pretty good and every one eats without too many complaints. Every once in a while, I come up with something really good. I'm pretty proud of this one so I thought I would share it. I plan to do this periodically so you better keep up!





***WARNING***


I do not follow recipes. I cook by smell and taste. I don't measure things and I don't write things down. Measurements are by memory and estimation.





Now, without further hesitation, my "recipe" for an amazing tomato soup!

This soup would be incredible with ripe summer tomoatoes. I had to make do with the "ripened on the vine" ones. At least they were red and smelled like tomato. This recipe made enough for about 10 servings with a side or sandwich. I planned on freezing half of it but we ate it all first. Consider making the full amount or even more and freezing.





4 lbs tomatoes


whole garlic


1/2 or small sweet onion


salt


cayenne


(I used Hot Salt for the cayenne and portion of the salt)


whole pepper corns


oregano


sage


marjoram


1 carton of chicken or vegetable broth (2 cans?)





Run the tomatoes whole through the food processor until almost smooth leaving some chunks for texture (skin, seeds and everything! Don't want to waste any of the nutrition)


pour into large pot. Same with onion.


Smash 2 cloves of garlic and put in. Add broth. Bring to boil. Add seasonings to taste and simmer until flavors are blended. Serve topped with your favorite cheese and a salad or sandwich. Enjoy!





Please let me know if you make this, how it turned out and what modifications you made because I wouldn't want you to do exactly what I did. No fun there!

Here Comes Santa Claus

OK. So its the week before Christmas (almost). The shopping is DONE!! Even Santa is done with his shopping. Which brings us to my point (assuming there is one in here somewhere). Linden still believes in Santa Claus. She's right on the edge of not believing. Right at that point where she doesn't quite trust the kids who are telling her different things. Right at the point where she has lots of questions. Now if you know Linden, you know that she has LOTS of questions. I think the word is actually 'incessant'? For the past several weeks, we have discussed ad nauseaum how Santa can possibly deliver to all the kids in the world (and believe me, she has more than one angle on this one), why we can't just fly to the North Pole and see Santa and why do kids keep lying to her about The Big Guy not being. To be honest, I am done with Santa. I'm ready to stop playing the game but I don't have the heart to tell her. Her sister is telling her big stories about Mr. Claus and his doings while at the same time slipping that she "knows" was Santa is bringing. Linden is a smart kid. I think this will probably be the last year for Santa, Mr. EB and the tooth fairy. I am trying to enjoy the magic for as long as it lasts. And so is Linden.

Link to where you can find this card : http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14865605