Brie Soup

A warming cheese soup served with little cranberry toasts. Serves four as a creamy appetizer or two as a comforting suppertime meal. Can be made 24 hours ahead without the taosts.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 2-4

Ingredients

• For the soup

• 1  ounce cream cheese, with garlic and herbs (eg Boursin)
• 4  ounces  brie cheese, cut into cubes
• 1 2⁄3 cups vegetable broth
• 1⁄2 cup  single cream
• 2  teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 -2  tablespoon white wine (optional)

• To serve

• 4  slices French baguettes
• 1 (8 ounce) jar cranberry sauce
• 1  tablespoon parsley, chopped

Directions

1. Put all soup ingredients into a liquidizer and blend until smooth.
2. Strain through a sieve. Can be stored in fridge for 24 hours at this point until ready to cook / serve.
3. When ready to cook / serve, prepare cranberry toasts.
4. Lightly toast the slices of French bread, then spread with a little cranberry sauce.
5. Put soup in a heavy based saucepan, making sure to gather any thick mixture at the bottom of the container, and stir well. Gradually bring to boiling point, stirring all the time, then simmer gently for 1 minute.
6. Serve in warmed soup plates with a slice of cranberry toast floating on top, and the whole sprinkled with chopped parsley.
7. Cook's note: for a crunchier texture French bread can be oiled and cooked in a hot oven for 3 minutes.