Cream of Tomato Soup w/ Katie's Grilled Cheese

It's been getting cold around here lately...and yes we live in Florida! A few cold fronts have came over us the last few days and it has been very refreshing but it also puts us in a soup mood. Here's an easy classic that tastes great!

Ingredients 

2 tbsp Butter
1 28oz can of Italian Peeled Plum shaped Tomatoes
1 Onion, finely diced
2 cups of Chicken Broth
1/2 cup of Water
1 tsp Sugar
1/2 cup of Heavy Cream
1 tsp Minced Garlic
1 Bay Leaf
Fresh Chives
Salt
Pepper






Directions

1. In a soup pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions, pinch of salt, and sweat the onions for 12 minutes. Be sure to stir occasionally so they do not burn.
2. Add garlic and let cook for 1 minute. Next, add the can of tomatoes (juice included!), using a potato masher to break up the pieces of whole tomato. 
3. Add chicken broth, water, sugar, and bay leaf. Bring mixture to a simmer and heat for 30 minutes.
4. Using a blender, puree small amounts of soup at a time until it is very smooth. Store in a second bowl. 
5. Strain the blended broth back into the soup pot, and turn to medium low heat. 
6. When soup starts to simmer, add heavy cream and allow to heat through, about 3-5 minutes. 
7. Pour into soup bowls and top with fresh chives.

200 calories per bowl

...and no Tomato Soup would be complete without...Katie's Grilled Cheese Sandwich!