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Welcome! :-) Whatever brought you here today wasn't an accident, and I'm so glad you stopped by. I'm always glad to have folks drop in my kitchen for a visit and hope you'll feel right at home. We always have an ample supply of fresh lemonade, sweet tea, and a pot of coffee brewing along with a sideboard full of baked treats for you to enJOY while you're here. Relax and take your time as we visit and catch up on the latest news. Don't forget to email and let me know what's going on in your world, as well. And, come back soon!


Thursday, July 21, 2011

The Colors of Christmas in July

We're celebrating CHRISTMAS in JULY and cooking with RED and GREEN veggies and herbs today! Red and green have come to represent the colors of Christmas. We tend to incorporate these colors into our holiday decorating, gift wrapping, and even festive clothing. Green and red cover our Christmas tables and shine from building to building in our decorated cities. When it comes to determining how these colors came to be associated with Christmas, several schools of thought exist. Rather than go into detail here, I'll challenge you to research this on your own by going to these links and finding out why we automatically think, "red and green" when we think "the colors of Christmas." Check out these sites: http://www.suite101.com/content/the-origin-of-christmas-colors-a72109

Also: http://www.christmaslore.com/the_true_meaning_behind_the_christmas_colors.html

While you may not be dreaming of snow, Santa Claus, and Christmas-y reds and greens in all this heat, you might enJOY at least pretending the temperature is bearable while you flip through a new cookbook and plan to try some cool new recipes.

A few weeks ago I received notification that I was "this week's winner for the Foodie Blogroll 'Spread the Word & Comment to Win 'Simply Sugar and Gluten Free' Cookbook' contest! (I was sooooooo excited, because I NEVER win anything! Ever!)  As the winner, I received two copies of the book Simply Sugar and Gluten Free by Amy Green. One copy, I can keep, and the other, I was told I could give away on my blog. Here's what it looks like:


So, after the books arrived, I read through my copy and chose a recipe to share with you. I think it's a keeper for sure! I've made it twice already, and let me tell you, not a drop was wasted. The recipe, "Basil Tomato Soup," is on page 58, and I want to share it with you today. Anyone who leaves a comment below (after the recipe) will be entered into a drawing to win the extra copy of "Simply Sugar and Gluten Free" by Amy Green---so don't forget to leave your two-cents! The contest ENDS on July 31 at midnight. I'll post the winner's name on the blog on August 1.

You're going to love this soup! I've eaten it cold---sipping it from a mug---and, I've eaten it hot along with some corn fritters, and it was delicious both ways. So, let's get started! Go gather the ingredients and I'll meet you back here!

BASIL TOMATO SOUP
INGREDIENTS:

Now, don't panic on me! I know that looks like a lot, but it really isn't! Hang on!

Melt the butter and heat the oil in a 6-quart heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium-low heat.

Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until the onions are soft, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute longer, until fragrant. (This smells sooooo good!)

Add the broth ...  

... and the tomatoes (the recipe calls for "seeded" but I didn't have that... The blender pretty much takes care of the seeds anyway :-). Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.

While your soup simmers for about 10 minutes, gather some fresh basil and chop it fine. This will add the pretty Christmas-y GREEN flecks and yummy flavor to the soup. You'll need about 3 T., plus a little extra, if you plan to use some for garnish. This smells soooooo good when you're chopping it.
After about 10 minutes,  add 3 T. basil and 1/8 tsp. cinnamon and simmer for 10 minutes longer, until the tomatoes and onions are very tender.

Remove from the heat and cool slightly.

Puree the soup with an immersion blender or in small batches in a blender or food processor.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Fill a bowl or mug and enJOY! So YUMMY! (I had my first bowl with corn fritters on the side, but crackers would be a good addition, too. I've also enJOYed it with a Reuben sandwich, as well as all by itself, cold from a mug. All were very good.)

BASIL TOMATO SOUP

INGREDIENTS:

2 T. unsalted butter
2 T. olive oil
1 large onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, grated fine or minced
4 c. chicken broth
2 (28-oz.) cans peeled whole plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
3 T chopped fresh basil, plus extra, if desired for garnish
1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
salt and ground black pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Melt the butter and heat the oil in a 6-quart heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until the onions are soft, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute longer, until fragrant.

Add the broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Continue to simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, then add 3 T. basil and cinnamon and simmer for 10 minutes longer, until the tomatoes and onions are very tender. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.

Puree the soup with an immersion blender or in small batches in a blender or food processor. Season to taste with salt and pepper. This soup can be served hot or chilled. Garnish with the extra basil before serving.

Make It Dairy-Free: Eliminate the butter and increase the oil to 3 Tablespoons.

Make It Vegan: Eliminate the butter and increase the oil to 3 Tablespoons. Replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth.

Quick Tip: Basil chiffonade makes a beautiful garnish. Chiffonade actually refers to a method of cutting herbs. It's very simple---just tightly roll several basil leaves together lengthwise and cut at an angle into thin strips. Use a very sharp chef's knife for best results.

If you enJOY the taste of fresh basil, try planting some in a pot and keeping it on your porch. It's not only pretty, but you reap the benefits when you use it in your recipes!
It doesn't take much to grow a few fresh tomatoes (well, that's what I used to think, until this year and our garden has NOT produced much at all in the way of tomatoes). Hopefully, your garden has received more rain than ours and has done well at providing your family with some great produce. Nothing tastes better than fresh, home-grown tomatoes!


Be sure to leave your comments below, so you'll be entered to win the "Simply Sugar and Gluten-free Cookbook" by Amy Green.

Many BLESSINGS to you until next time!

11 comments:

  1. This looks so delicious! I've not found a tomato basil soup that I've just loved, so I will certainly be giving this a try!

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  2. Glad you found the blog, Jennifer, and I hope you enJOY making the soup. I've never been a big tomato soup fan, but I love this soup! I made it again today! It just seems to satisfy a craving---it tastes so soothing and good. Holler at me if you have any questions when you make it.

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  3. I will HAVE to make this for Natalie. The tomato basil soup at McBride's Cafe in Baptist Med Center is one of her favorite things to eat. With all of the places to go eat in LR, she will beg to go there just to get the soup!! I have looked for others recipes, but I think this will be most like theirs!!

    PS: Enter me for the drawing ;) love ya!! LaNette

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  4. You're "in", LaNette and Natalie! Hope you try the soup. Would you believe I have my FOURTH batch on the stove cooking right now?!! I love this stuff! (cold, hot, lukewarm... I don't care! It's been good every way I've tried it! :-)

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  5. Hannah and I love tomato soup--Neighborhood Mill is our favorite place to eat in Harrison and we love their tomato basil soup. I just bought her some canned tomato soup because she had her wisdom teeth cut out on Friday-I'm sure there is no comparison to the homemade. I will have to try this one! Thanks!!

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  6. Amanda, I think Hannah would definitely LOVE this soup! It's so soothing and good. I savor every spoonful; not a drop goes to waste here! :-) Hope you get to make it soon. Thanks for leaving your comment. You're now entered into the contest to win the "Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free Cookbook."

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  7. Sounds wonderful. I would love to try some of these recipes. We love to make good soups.

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  8. Thanks, "Audrey's mom", for your comment! It won't be long before soup season is here again. Can't wait until those crisp fall mornings!

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  9. Okay, so I'm a day behind in posting the WINNER of the cookbook drawing. I had my twin granddaughters here from Sunday evening through late yesterday afternoon, then I forgot that I was going to post the results of the contest yesterday. I'm very happy to announce that the WINNNER is Jennifer McGee Taylor of Boulder, CO. Congratulations, Jennifer! Please send me your postal address so I can get the cookbook in the mail to you ASAP. To everyone else, many THANKS to you for reading the post and for leaving your comments. Please come back often and see what's cookin' here at A Pinch of This... A Smidgen of That!

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  10. Just wanted to thank you for sharing my book with your readers!! I'm glad you enjoyed the soup. :) I like it hot or cold.

    Hugs,
    Amy

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  11. Amy, Thank you for allowing me not only to enJOY one of your yummy recipes and share it on my blog, but also, to have a cookbook to keep and one to give away to my readers. I've already found some other recipes in your book that I want to try, so I may be sharing more (with references to your book, of course) here on the blog. I wish you the best of success with your new book! Blessings!! Pat

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