Tomato Soup

 I love tomato soup.  Not so much from a can, but real, homemade tomato soup.  Yum.  I also like easy recipes, and recipes that can be frozen.  Here is our family favorite, easy tomato soup recipe:

Ingredients:

• 4-6 tomatoes (I use Roma)
• 1-2 TBL butter
• 1 clove garlic, chopped finely
• 1/4 cup onion, chopped finely
• 1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes (with the juice)
• 1 14.5 oz. can of diced or crushed tomatoes (with juice)
• 32 oz. of vegetable or chicken broth
• 1-2 TBS honey or agave
• 1/8 tsp liquid hickory smoke
• salt & pepper to taste
• cilantro & corn for topping

1. Preheat oven to 450.  Slice 4-6 tomatoes in half, and lay them with the open side up in a baking dish.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Place dish with tomatoes in oven for 10-15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a pan, melt 1-2 TBL Butter.  Once melted, 1/4 cup finely chopped onion and 1 clove of garlic (or some garlic powder).  Cook until onions soften.  
3. In a large pot, combine 1-28 oz can of diced tomatoes (with juice) and 1-14.5 oz can of diced or crushed tomatoes.  Pour in 32 oz vegetable or chicken broth (I have done both and they both taste great; I use Better Than Bullion brand Chicken most of the time).  Add in 1-2 TBS of honey or agave, as well as 1/8 tsp. liquid hickory smoke (my friend Claire's idea-it's awesome, and she's amazing).
4. When the ovened tomatoes are done, toss them in the pot, too (whole).  
5. Let it simmer 10-20 minutes.  
6. Scoop out the larger chunks of tomatoes into your blender.  Blend for a few seconds.  Repeat as necessary until your soup reaches your desired consistency.  
7. Serve war with corn &/or cilantro on the top!

I just froze my first batch of tomato soup.  Tomato pastes and such always freeze well (as have all soups that I've tried), and so I don't anticipate that it wouldn't freeze well, but I'll update this post later if I find the opposite to be true.  

How do I freeze my soups?  I pour 2-3 cup portions into Quart sized Freezer Ziploc baggies.  Seal.  Lay flat in the freezer.  Once frozen, I place them upright in a bucket in my freezer...keeps it tidy and I can easily find what I'm looking for.  Don't forget to label them!  To defrost, either run under hot water or place it in the fridge overnight.