Tomato Basil Soup for the Birthday Soul!

I love Tomato Basil Soup! There was a restaurant in Dallas called Souper Salad where I got my first bowl of the delicious soup. It is amongst the best of comfort food in my opinion! After I left Dallas, oh how I missed that soup. Safeway, the Grocery Store, had a version of the soup, but it was chunky. It was good but creamy is better! When we moved to the Rocky Mountains, guess what I found! Souper Salad! I was delighted until I found out Tomato Basil Soup was not on the menu anymore! So I have set out to find a recipe for my beloved Tomato Basil Soup! I hope it is good!

Ingredients

• 4 tomatoes - peeled, seeded and diced (I like to add a can of Stewed Italian Tomatoes for more flavor)
• 4 cups tomato juice
• 14 leaves fresh basil
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream (might need 1/4 to 1/2 cup more if you added canned tomatoes)
• 1/2 cup butter
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Place tomatoes and juice in a stock pot over medium heat. Simmer for 30 minutes.
2. Puree the tomato mixture along with the basil leaves (I used my blender, but you could use a food processor too), and return the puree to the stock pot.
3. Place the pot over medium heat, and stir in the heavy cream and butter.
4. Season with salt and pepper. Heat, stirring until the butter is melted. Do not boil.
5. Serve inside a bread bowl or with my favorite, grilled cheese sandwiches!!!!
6. Of course, this Soup is great on its own or you can add parmesan cheese, sour cream, pasta, etc. The possibilities are endless.

Thanks to www.allrecipes.com for the base recipe of this soup!!!!

And to Souper Salad for the start of this love affair!

Lesson Learned: When you pour something hot into the blender - don't turn it on high! You will have a big mess to clean up and a few burns - and a few laughs!