Recipes | The Best Tomato Basil Soup & The Best Grilled Cheese | Dinner Ideas

Do you ever just want to eat food that makes you feel like a kid?  Ever since I've become pregnant (more about My Life, here), all I've wanted to do was eat like I did when I was a kid - weird.  I've been craving Mac N'Cheese, Pizza, Peanut Butter (Grilled PB&J, anyone...?), Plain ole Chocolate Cake, Spaghetti & Meatballs... and Grilled Cheese. 

I've been doing my best to stay active and eat somewhat healthy.  What?  You mean the things I listed above aren't healthy?!  Uh oh...

However, this tomato basil soup recipe is very healthy and satisfying.  It is perfect paired with the grilled cheese sandwich.  I know, I know, you're saying - Grilled Cheese isn't healthy... but for me a half of a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of this warm soup is a delicious lunch or dinner that doesn't send me to the cookie jar and only totals about 350 calories.   That sounds healthy to me!

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Tomato Basil Soup

3 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tablespoons of olive oil

2 - 14 oz. cans of crushed tomatoes

1 - 14 oz. can of whole tomatoes

2 cups of stock (chicken or vegetable)

1 tsp of sea salt

1 tsp of sugar

1/2 tsp of fresh ground black pepper

1/4 cup of heavy cream

3 tablespoons of fresh basil, julienned

parmesan cheese

In a saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil on medium heat for 1 minute - being careful not to burn the garlic.  Add the crushed tomatoes.  Add the whole tomatoes one at a time, squeezing them into the pan to break them up.  Add the juice from the whole tomatoes, as well.  Add chicken stock, salt, pepper and sugar.  Cook the soup on medium at a simmer for 10 minutes.  

To finish, reduce the heat to low and stir in heavy cream and basil.  Serve topped with parmesan cheese or a grilled cheese sandwich.  Get the recipe for The Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich here.