Homemade roasted tomato soup

I first tried tomato soup was sometime after Mike and I got married. I had never tried it before so when he introduced me to the Campbell's canned soup I thought "hey pretty good" So from there I always bought canned soup for grilled ham and cheese nights, figuring that homemade probably took to much time, until I got pregnant and had a major craving for tomato soup and grilled ham and cheese and no soup to be found in the house. I decided really how hard could it be. Not only is homemade super easy it tastes a world better, and roasting the tomato's makes then sweeter. I like mine creamy but if your a purest just leave it out.


Roasted Tomato Soup

2 1/2 pounds of ripe, seeded and cored tomato

1 yellow onion cut in equal slices

2 garlic cloves

3 sprigs fresh thyme

2 tbsp olive oil

3 cups of chicken stock

1 bay leave

1 tsp of salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 cup cream (I used light cream but you choose)


Preheat oven 300 degrees

On a baking sheet place tomatoes, garlic, onions, thyme. Drizzle olive oil over all and toss to coat. Roast for 2 hours

Let tomatoes cool to touch and remove skins and tear into bite size pieces. Transfer to stock pot along with the rest of the items on the baking sheet. Add chicken stock and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 40 mins. Remove thyme, and bay leaves add salt and pepper and transfer to a blender (an immersion blender works well too) Return soup to pot stir in cream simmer 10 minutes then serve.

I topped mine with diced avocado and enjoyed with grilled ham and cheese. Comfort food done right.

(sorry the picture is blurry, still getting used to my camera)

Encouragement to chew on:

Aren’t you glad that failure is never final!? “For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again” Prov 24:16, How wonderful that every time we fall, He will lift us up dusts us off and tells us to try again. Keep pressing on and leaning on Him and you will be able to achieve only what you have dreamed.

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Yummy Shrimp and Orzo

This past weekend I made a dish, that honestly since then I gave been craving. I made a shrimp and orzo dish and I don't know about anyone else that tried it (I did have some people ask for the recipe) I thought it was fantastic. Here is the recipe...let me know if you try it

Shrimp and Orzo Dish recipe

Ingredients:
2 pound raw deshelled and deveined shrimp (tails removed)
1 Pound of Orzo
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (to start)
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tsp salt (to start)
1 tsp pepper (to start)
1/2 bunch of Italian parsley
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 whole english cucumber (sliced in half the long way then cubed)
1 red onion diced
Fresh feta cheese cubed

Here's how you begin

Place raw shrimp on a baking sheet, sprinkle with evoo, salt and pepper (generously)
at 400 degrees for 6-7 mins (that's it)

Make orzo as directed on package...when done strain and pour in to big mixing bowl. In a measuring cup squeeze 1/2 cup of lemon juice (about 2 lemons but you will then add more to taste), then the olive oil, your salt and pepper. Whisk together and pour over pasta. Chop up your herbs and add in to bowl, then onion, and cucumber. Toss together to blend in flavors. Now pour the baking sheet of shrimp and liquid on the sheet right in. Toss to incorporate flavors. Here where you taste and see what you think it needs more of..oil, lemon juice, salt, or even everything..lol season it to your palette. At least ad in cubed feta cheese and toss gently to not destroy feta...Tada yumminess in a minutes.


Here's some more pictures of the dish...keep in mind was taken with my old camera so light isn't the greatest.

                  Encouragement to chew on:
People don’t need us to “fix” them; they need us to love them. Let God’s love transform hearts & His Word transform thinking! Share a smile, be a blessing, life is beautiful.