Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Hearty Tomato Soup

Ole Sweetie-Pi and I were out to dinner one night a couple of weeks ago, and the restaurant was offering a cookbook published by one of our local organizations, The Connecticut Valley Home Care/Hospice.  Now, I don't know about you, but I find it hard to resist  tried and true family recipes and an opportunity to support a local organization that does such fine work.  As soon as we arrived home, I immediately sat down down and read it from cover to cover, selecting those recipes that had the most appeal, as well as recipes from the names of those local excellent cooks whose names I recognized.

This recipe was submitted by Bea Carleton, a name I've known a very long time.  Bea was a friend and former workmate of my sainted grandmother, and a woman who was very well known for her excellent recipes.  I have other recipes from Bea via my grandmother's handwritten cards when they used to swap recipes at work.  True to Bea's reputation, this recipe is a keeper.  Both Sweetie-Pi and I loved this simple and hearty tomato soup that starts with the well-loved tomato soup in the familiar red and gold cans.

As good as this was the first day, it was even better reheated the second day.  It makes a good amount of soup, enough for 6 people, I think, perhaps more if you're serving sandwiches on the side.

Hearty Tomato Soup
(Bea Carleton in Recipes and Remembrances, Connecticut Valley Home Care/ Hospice)

1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
2 3-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
2 10-3/4 ounce cans condensed tomato soup
1 1/4 cup milk
2 16-ounce cans whole tomatoes, undrained

Cook and stir onion in butter in a three-quart sauce pan until the onion is transparent, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove from heat.

Stir in cream cheese, paprika, basil and garlic powder.

Gradually stir in soup and milk.  Beat with hand beater (or immersion blender) until smooth.

Break up the tomatoes with a fork and stir into soup.

Heat over medium heat without boiling,  stirring frequently, until hot.

51 comments:

  1. Katy, I just love to read your posts! I feel such a kinship with you as I do the same thing with locally produced cookbooks. I have a big bunch of these and can never pass up a chance for another!
    This soup looks wonderful, however I would definitely need a BIG slice of that gorgeous bread to go with it! I love the header photo...mmmm...warm, buttered....oops, am I drooling on the keyboard?

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  2. You have such great recipes and this is another one. I love tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches. Thanks a bunch. I, too, love those kind of cookbooks.

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  3. Simple, but it really sounds delicious. You lured me in with the cream cheese. I hope you saved a cuo for me.

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  4. Tomato soup will NEVER be the same! YUMMY!!!

    :)

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  5. Love the soup... cookbooks are something I love too..

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  6. Sounds like a very flavorful soup and wonderfully rich with cream cheese!

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  7. I love local cookbooks. When I travel I always try to find a community cookbook to take home. The soup looks delicious, how could it not be with that cream cheese.
    Mimi

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  8. Don't you just love those local cookbooks!!?? I always have such a great time reading them (and you know the names to steer clear of because you've eaten there not so good cooking). Nothing is better than tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich :)

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  9. I love, love, love the local cookbooks - they're like having a huge extended family sharing their old family recipes with you! Nothing too over the top fancy - just simply good. Can't resist one when I see it. This is one of my cozy favorite foods - hope today is great for you!
    Susan

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  10. I have shelves full of local cookbooks and oh how I love them.

    I'm thinking I need a grilled cheese sandwich to go with that soup of yours, Katy. I know, I know, cream cheese and grilled cheese? Oh well, it's all so comforting for a snowy day in PA:)

    Thanks for sharing...

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  11. That looks like a perfect dinner for the cold weather. Lovely color too.

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  12. I love tomatoe soup and your recipe sounds delicious, I like the use of cheese in it! Lovely colour too!
    Cheers

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  13. oh my mouth is just watering for this soup! what a great cookbook, i love those kinds of finds!

    i made your chicken with the italian dressing and brown sugar and it was such a hit! my husband took one bite and immediately said, "i want you to make this again!" you have such great recipes katy!

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  14. Note to self - do NOT read this blog while you are starving. That creamy tomato soup looks so delicious!

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  15. I love so much about all of this. The creamy tomato soup is sensational. It comforts, pleases, is beautiful and filled with taste. The fact that it is a beloved recipe from someone special makes it even more delicious.

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  16. WOW..such a creamy and yummy soup...lov the color too...slurp!!!!

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  17. LOL I am slurping split pea a I read this post - mmm delicious! I like that you made this from a fundraising cookbook.

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  18. Soups everywhere today!

    Love a great tomato soup, thanks for this

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  19. Cream cheese in a veggie soup, I am loving this tomato soup!

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  20. Hi Katy. How did you know that tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches are one of my favorites. I can think back to when my esposo and I would at least once a week have tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. We still do, but not as often. Your recipes are always so easy. Thanks for sharing. Have a great Thursday.

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  21. I love cookbooks that are written by people that are local and you know are good cooks! That book sounds wonderful Katy and the soup looks just as good!

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  22. I could use a cup of this creamy soup right now to chase away the chill of a cold day. This would go with about any kind of sandwich for a very filling meal-thanks Katy!
    I love local cookbooks...I've got several with such worn pages, but they hold such great recipes, which I use.

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  23. Thanks for sharing this recipe. My husband loves tomato soup just as much as I do. We love eating it with grilled cheese sandwiches. So yummy.

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  25. Healthy & Perfect Soup. Well presented too.love all your posts..i love cookbooks too

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  26. What a great way to dress up condensed soup. Love the addition of cream cheese.

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  27. Terrific recipe! I love recipes that involve "doctoring" up a can or jar of something to make it spectacular. I'd love to make this one!

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  28. Katy dear, I am gonna try this soup surely. I have not tried cream cheese in soup. Looks sinfully tasty.

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  29. Beautiful bright soup! So tempting. How lucky you are to have been in that restaurant that night or you may not have purchase the cookbook.

    Can't wait to see more from this book and from Bea!

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  30. Congratulations !!!!!!!! Katy ..for winning the The blue willow tea set..just matches your profile picture...lol...most deserving..Enjoy

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  31. Katy! I have always wanted a tomato soup recipe!! I bet the cream cheese and basil just makes the soup! I can't wait to give it a try, it sounds fairly easy!!

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  32. I have them one bookmarked. I love this souped up soup idea. This would be a perfect camping recipe for my us too.

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  33. The cookbook sounds like a gem! The soup looks excellent! So creamy and comforting. I've never seen cream cheese in a tomato soup. What a lovely flavor for it.

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  34. I don't know which looks yummier..the soup or the sandwich!!

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  35. You always find the best recipes in those little community cookbooks! Tomato soup has always been a favorite of mine--especially paired with a good sandwich! (Your sandwich looks out of this world!) It's also good to know that it reheats well--I know some things reheat better than others, but it's funny how soup, chili, etc. almost always seem to be better after they sit overnight.

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  36. I know what you mean, our church cookbook and my mom's old Eastern Star cookbook are all tattered from the use of the tried and true recipes over the years. Every one submits their best recipes to those!

    This soup is wonderful. "Souped up" tomato soup. I spent hours making a roasted tomato soup a couple of months ago, and I can't help but wonder if this would taste just as good.

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  37. not only does that soup sound good but the sandwich next to it looks amazing too. what an awesome meal.

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  38. Katy this sounds to die for. Tomato soup is so comforting and delicious. It's one of my fave kinds of soup and as a child was a go-to fave. Thanks for the recipe. I will have to give it a try sometime :) xx

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  39. Katy the soup looks so delicious, never tried adding cream cheese to soups. Love the colorful veggies in the sandwich. A perfect comfort meal for a snowy day like today.

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  40. I've never made my own tomato soup...can you imagine? This seems so easy...I bet I could do it :) Thanks for sharing. Looks delicious!

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  41. A recipe is always better when it reminds you of someone you enjoy. This is a really interesting twist since it uses the Campbell's Tomato soup. I like the addition o fthe cream cheese ( which must be what lightens the color) and the addition of more tomatoes.
    I can see why this recipe is a keeper. Nice.

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  42. I love tomato soup. And it looks so good. And the accompanying sandwiches ( that is another favourite of mine). Delicious.

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  43. Your soup looks scrumptious. Don't you love old tried and true recipes? I can't resist good cookbooks either.

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  44. Have some awards waiting for you at my blog... Please accept those..

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  45. I am sitting here hungry and I am going to have tomato soup, if I have some. It is too late to make anything but I do have organic soups. If not tomato, another. It is cruel to tempt us like this. Come cook for us.

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  46. SHARING is such a wonderful thing, isn't it? And thank you for sharing such beautiful & hearty soup.

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  47. This looks so good. I need to pull out some of my canned tomato soup. The Lori variety not Campbells.

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  48. I love all those community cookbooks. When I was home last I photocopied a few that my mom has from the 50s and 60s. The best recipes! And how touching that you found one by a friend of your grandmas. Lovely. And wonderful soup.

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  49. OOOH that lloks devine..but that SANDWHICh looks even yummier...may I ask what kind of Sandwhich that is? It looks like HEAVEN to me!

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  50. This looks so good, I'm intrigued by the cream cheese. I just might make thistoday as it is cold and miserable out!

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