Love in a Bowl

Creamy Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Parmesan Crostinis
For those of you who love to cuddle up on the couch with a good movie and a bowl of lovin', this recipe is for you. I am a little (okay, very) obsessed with the Food Network. This is my channel of choice to connect with, laugh with and feel oh so comforted. 
Pat and Gina Neely create a twist on the classic tomato basil by throwing in some roasted red peppers for a gorgeous enhanced flavor. You can find this recipe here.


To start, you will need:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 Vidalia onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 (12-ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons sugar, optional
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish

I forgot about the half-and-half so I just used whole milk. My sister and I also had organic sweet tea during the making of this - optional but highly recommended.

To make this bad boy:

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and carrots and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute until just fragrant. Season with salt and pepper. 

Add tomato paste and cook until toasted, just 1 more minute.

Add tomatoes, red peppers, and chicken broth and let simmer for 25 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the flavors have melded together. Taste for seasoning and add more salt, pepper, and the sugar, if needed. Add half-and-half and basil, and puree using a hand held immersion blender until smooth. 

(Note: I don't have a fancy immersion blender so we used a standard blender and spooned the mixture in until nicely pureed. Do NOT fill the blender all the way full because it will spill! Not that I know from experience or anything. Fill half way in blender and pour into a serving bowl. Repeat 2-3 more times.)

The end product:

The parmesan crostinis were an added bonus. To start:

I used a crusty French bread and a tub of shredded parmesan. Cut the bread into 3/4" inch pieces and lay flat on a baking sheet. Brush the top sides of the bread with olive oil. Top generously with the shredded parmesan. Put underneath the broiler (on high) for about 3 minutes or until cheese has melted and the bread has browned.

Enjoy this comforting meal with your favorite movie :)