tomato basil soup with fancy grilled cheese

This recipe goes out to one of my best friends in the world Scout Burkle. She taught me all about grilled cheese and tomato soup. I remember cold wintery days in Tahoe, sitting with her on the couch dipping grilled cheese in steaming hot tomato soup. Scout, you are one of the best people I have ever met, and I love you to the moon and back.

-Devin

The best thing about this soup, is that my Dad grew the tomatoes!

ingredients

3 pounds ripe plum tomatoes (I used a variety), cut in half lengthwise

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

2 cups chopped yellow onion

6 garlic cloves

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

28 ounces canned plum tomatoes with their juice

4 cups fresh basil leaves

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1 quart vegetable broth

Directions

preheat oven to 400

1.toss fresh tomatoes, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt and pepper

spread in one layer on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes

2.In a pot on medium heat, saute the onions and garlic with 2 tablespoons olive oil, butter, and red pepper flakes for ten minutes. Add the canned tomatoes, basil, thyme, and broth. Add the oven-roasted tomatoes, including juices.

3. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Pass through a food mill with the coarsest blade.

This recipe makes a lot, so you can do what i love....and freeze some for later. I also love to give this out to friends in mason jar as a gift.

Fancy Grilled Cheese

Everyone knows that a grilled cheese is not a grilled cheese without some butter. If you are trying to be healthy/or on a diet, you should not be eating cheese and bread anyway. If you are like myself and run 4 miles a day so you can indulge in life's greatest gifts, food, then make a grilled cheese and put butter on both sides of the pan!

ingredients

1 good loaf of bread

sharp cheddar

BUTTER

Directions

Slice bread and cheese and make a sandwich.

Heat frying pan and throw sandwich on the pan. Leave on one side for a minute and flip. Take a big slice of butter and lather up the side flipped. Flip again and repeat. Let brown on each side for 4 min. Cover with lid to help the cheese melt.