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    Home / Soups / Tomato-n-Grilled Cheese Soup, When Two Good Things Unite To Become One Even Better Thing

    Tomato-n-Grilled Cheese Soup, When Two Good Things Unite To Become One Even Better Thing

    January 11, 2015 by Ingrid Beer 4 Comments

    Something very special, very magical, happens when two really good things come together and are combined: they make a new, even better thing.

    Tomato-n-Grilled Cheese Soup, When Two Good Things Unite To Become One Even Better Thing

    Whenever my husband and I take a few moments to reflect on our blog (and what better time than the New Year!), we can't help but make note of the simple fact that without one of the two of us, there just truly wouldn't be “The Cozy Apron”.

    And there's an amazingly beautiful and humbling gravity to that realization.

    Tomato-n-Grilled Cheese Soup | thecozyapron.com

    You see, without those unique things that I bring, there'd be no recipes or personal, written posts to share with you; and without my husband's wonderful talents, there'd be no exquisite, artistic and appetizing images of those very recipes to entice you into coming to visit with us, not to mention all of his technical and behind-the-scenes contributions that allow us to have a functioning site at all!

    Tomato-n-Grilled Cheese Soup | thecozyapron.com

    It's true, without one of the two of us, this little corner of the web-o-sphere would certainly not at all be the site that you're looking at.

    And I thank God for it, because to know that this is the work of not only one of us, but the both of us working together, is a very special gift to have an awareness of, and one that I wouldn't trade for anything.

    Tomato-n-Grilled Cheese Soup | thecozyapron.com

    Life makes visible to us all kinds of “amazing duos”, and we need only open our eyes and look around to find them.

    They're found in food combinations that we love to be comforted by such as a classic tomato soup and a simple grilled cheese sandwich, or in a marvelously juicy burger accompanied by some golden, crispy and salty french fries.

    Or even in the nature that surrounds us such as in the brilliantly scented flowers that bloom and those amazing little bees that keep them that way.

    Tomato-n-Grilled Cheese Soup | thecozyapron.com

    Then, there's also our Creator Who, when welcomed in to our lives, gives us a divine partner to lean on in tough times as well as in joyful ones, so that we may have communion with Him for a fuller, more mystically-experienced life.

    What a glorious notion it is that something can be made better by the addition of another wonderful thing!

    Tomato-n-Grilled Cheese Soup | thecozyapron.com

    Tomato-n-Grilled Cheese Soup | thecozyapron.com

    I have to say, I kinda really love this notion of my hubby being the “grilled cheese” to my “tomato soup”; and that when the two of us come together, we make a pretty darn tasty and nourishing one-pot meal!

    So let me ask you: who's the grilled cheese to YOUR tomato soup?

    Taste what's good and pass it on.

    Ingrid

    Tomato-n-Grilled Cheese Soup
    by Ingrid Beer

    Tomato-n-Grilled Cheese Soup | thecozyapron.com

    Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Recipe

    Yield: Serves 4-6

    Ingredients:

    • Olive oil
    • 1 onion, diced
    • 1 teapsoon Italian seasoning
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoons red pepper flakes
    • Pinch salt
    • 6 large cloves garlic, or 8 small cloves), pressed through garlic press
    • 3 ounces (½ can) tomato paste
    • 1 (28 ounce) can whole, San Marzano-style tomatoes
    • 1 ounce fresh basil leaves
    • ¼ heaping cup flat-leaf parsley
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 4 cups chicken stock, hot
    • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • French baguette, sliced into about 12 (½”) slices
    • 1 small clove garlic, peeled but whole
    • 1 – 1 ½ cups shredded, Italian-style 4 Cheese blend
    • 1 tablepsoon chopped parsley, for garnish

    Preparation:

    -Place a soup pot over medium-high heat, and add in about 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil; once hot, add in the diced onion and saute for few minutes until the onion begins to slightly brown.

    -Add in Italian seasoning, the black pepper, the red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt, and stir to combine; add in the garlic, and stir that in to incorporate.

    -Once the garlic become aromatic (about 30 seconds or so), add in the tomato paste and allow it cook for a minute or so to cook out the raw flavor; then, add in the canned tomatoes, the fresh basil and parsley, and the sugar, and stir to combine.

    -Add in the chicken stock, and then simmer the soup, partially covered, for 20 minutes.

    -After the 20 minutes, turn off the heat and add in the grated parmesan, and stir; then, using a hand-held immersion blender (or even your blender, but work in batches!), puree the soup until completely smooth; check the seasoning to see if any additional salt/pepper is needed.

    -Make some garlic toasts by drizzling some oil over the baguette slices, then placing them onto a baking sheet and under the broiler just until golden and toasty; then, rub the clove of garlic over each slice and add a pinch of salt. (You can leave your broiler on for the next step.)

    -To assemble your bowls, ladle some soup into oven-safe bowls, and top each with about 2-3 garlic toasts; then, sprinkle on about ¼ cup (or more) of the cheese, and place under the broiler to melt and become bubbly; carefully remove and garnish with a sprinkle of parsley before serving.

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    About Ingrid Beer

    Ingrid obtained her Culinary Arts degree in 2005 after graduating with honors from the California School of Culinary Arts (Le Cordon Bleu program) in Pasadena, CA.

    She has had the pleasure and privilege of being the Executive Chef for two substance abuse facilities in Malibu, Ca., as well as a personal chef for private clients.

    More about Ingrid →

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa @ The Meaning of Me

      January 11, 2015 at 8:16 pm

      My Hub is definitely the grilled cheese to my tomato soup! And in a whole different way, my Daughter is, too!
      This soup looks just about perfect. They love grilled cheese and tomato soup and I think they will love this version.
      Happy New Year to you, Ingrid!

      Reply
      • The Cozy Apron

        January 12, 2015 at 5:43 am

        Hi Lisa, Happy New Year to you! I love your comment; and it's true that often, there are multiple "grilled cheeses" in our lives! Really do hope you all enjoy this recipe.

        Reply
    2. Martha

      December 22, 2015 at 4:34 pm

      This is beautifully written, Ingrid. Every time I enter the kitchen to cook or bake, I always have the good Lord by my side to share, enjoy, and tease me every step of the process. 🙂 So I guess you could say that He is the grilled cheese to my tomato soup! I can't wait to try this recipe.

      Reply
      • The Cozy Apron

        December 22, 2015 at 4:53 pm

        Martha, what you shared is truly beautiful. To bring our Creator into our kitchens is to bring the ultimate inspiration, isn't it? Wonderful things happen when we invite Him in. I do hope you give this recipe a try, and here's hoping that you and your loved ones have a Merry Christmas and New Year!

        Reply

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    Welcome to The Cozy Apron — so glad to have you as a guest at my table! Here's where I share my passion for food, people and life through my culinary creations and my writing; and where my husband shares his love for food photography and all things visual.

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