(BBN)-A simple, homemade soup made with fresh tomatoes is a perfect wintertime treat when the best tomatoes are ripe in gardens and farmers' markets
TOTAL TIME:
40 min
PREP:
25 min
COOK:
15 min
YIELD:
6 to 8 servings
LEVEL:
Easy
INGREDIENTS
1 medium white or yellow onion
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter
Two 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
One 46-ounce bottle or can tomato juice
3 to 6 tablespoons sugar
1 or 2 tablespoons chicken base, or 3 chicken bouillon cubes
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup sherry, optional
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
DIRECTIONS
To begin, dice the onion.
Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven.
Throw in the onion and cook until translucent.
Now dump in the diced tomatoes and stir to combine.
Add the tomato juice.
Next - and this is important - in order to combat the acidity of the tomatoes add 3 to 6 tablespoons of sugar.
Now, you'll want to start on the low side, then taste and add more as needed.
Some tomatoes and juice have more of an acidic bite than others.
(For what it's worth, and I realize it's not worth much, use 6 tablespoons of sugar.)
Next, add 1 or 2 tablespoons chicken base to the pot.
Added 3, and it wound up being a little too much.
Now you can add lots of freshly ground black pepper.
Stir to combine, then heat almost to a boil.
Then turn off the heat.
Add in the sherry if desired.
Stir in the cream.
Add the basil and parsley and stir.
Serve the soup warm!, according to Foodnetwork.com.
BBN/SK/AD