Tomato Soup

"Found em!" I shouted to anyone that might be hovering near the country road mile we live on. A light rain shower just started, and there I was standing in the garden hunting down the last tomato that might be hiding. I found a couple of tomatoes nestled down beneath the sweet potato vines, large pepper plants leaves, and the numerous weeds that had continued to sprout even in the cool Fall weather. Mud was already caked to my old garden crocs, and my hands were also full of mud. Dexter the Mastiff sat quietly beside me, and was trying to stare down a brown caterpillar that was making it's way slowly across the earth. I turned, quickened my step down the dirt road with the dog beside me, carrying a half of dozen various sized tomatoes tettering in my arms and trying not to drop any along the road to home. I really wanted some tomato soup, and I just knew it would warm me up and Dex too. This recipe uses canned tomatoes, or you can use fresh ones too, like I did. I just peeled the tomatoes, put em' in the pot and went right along with the recipe from there. This recipe was loosely adapted from Cooks Illustrated.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons olive oil (a drizzle too)
• 1  small onion, chopped (don't have to be exact here)
• 1  garlic clove, minced
• 1  bay leaf
• 1 (28 ounce) can canned tomatoes
• 1  slice  bread, crusts removed (any kind)
• 1  cup vegetable broth or 1  cup chicken broth
• 1⁄8 teaspoon sea salt
• 1⁄8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  italian seasoning or 1⁄4 teaspoon oregano

• Toppers

• 3  tablespoons  chopped fresh chives
• 1  teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions

1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a soup pot, warmed over medium-high heat.
2. Add onion, bay leaf, and garlic.
3. Soften vegetables for 3 minutes.
4. Add tomatoes and their juice, and broth.
5. Mash up tomatoes with spoon of potato masher.
6. Stir in torn bread.
7. Add the Italian seasoning or oregano.
8. Bring to just below a boil, reduce heat to med/low and cook till warmed, (not boiling).
9. Add salt and pepper to taste.
10. Remove bay leaf.
11. Carefully scoop 3/4 cup tomato mixer out and run through a blender for a couple of seconds until mixed. Put pulsed tomato mixture in a bowl until all the tomato mixture is pulsed. (or use a hand mixer in pot).
12. Warm again to piping hot in soup pot, dish into a cup to carry around with you, or in a soup bowl. Add toppings as desired. Drizzle with oil as desired.