The Best Soup In the World

    Mavis Butterfield, over at her blog, One Hundred Dollars A Month, offered a tomato soup recipe she said was a dead ringer for Panera's tomato bisque. I'm not sure about that. I do know that every time I've served it, even people who say they hate tomato soup practically lick the bowl.

It's that good. 

I'm going to give you Mavis' original version (which I followed faithfully the first time around) -- and mine. Both result in incredibly rich, tomato-y goodness.

Mavis's Copycat Panera Tomato Bisque

2 tablespoons olive oil
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 large white or yellow onion, diced
2 {28 oz} cans of peeled tomatoes, undrained
1 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon of dried basil or 6 large fresh basil leaves, chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

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1/4 cup half and half 

Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top; Salt and pepper to taste

        Mavis' soup -- from One Hundred Dollars A Month

My riff on Mavis's recipe:

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus a tablespoon of butter

1 1/2 tablespoons dried garlic

1 large onion, diced

1 #10 can tomatoes (diced or whatever -- cheaper than buying 28 oz. cans)

3 chicken bouillon cubes  (plus a cup or so of hot water)

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

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1/2 cup whole milk

Parmesan cheese, plus salt and pepper to taste

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Directions for both:  sizzle onion and garlic in the olive oil/butter for a few minutes...then dump everything but the last two line items in a big pot. Let cook slowly for about an hour, thinning if needed with a little water. Buzz the hot soup in a blender -- a handheld blender works even better. Stir in the half-and-half or milk, then add salt and pepper. Serve the soup with Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top. (It's good cold, too.)

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The Brick, who like myself, grew up on Campbell's tomato soup (and didn't like it), LOVES this soup. I have to admit: it's pretty darn wonderful. It keeps in the fridge about a week, but freezes well. 

Makes enough for at 4-6 people, plus leftovers. 

Serve with a grilled cheese sandwich, Mavis' terrific Dutch Oven Bread or her Easy Naan Bread. Or go for the traditional accompaniment: saltine crackers.

Chicken noodle soup's good, too!