afterschool snack

I remember having the best tomato soup and grilled cheese at a diner in Hollywood on the way to piano lessons. The soup would be so hot that I would dunk my sandwiches into the soup at first, and then finally take one searing hot, yet delicious bite of the soup. They called it the "Afterschool Special". That diner had many delicious things on the menu, yet I always got the same thing. It was just too good.

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup have always been one of the most amazing culinary combinations I've ever had. Its also the most comforting. Something about the crunchy buttery bread and cheese dipped into the acidic yet creamy soup becomes a match made in heaven.

Creamy Tomato Soup
makes enough for 4 big bowls
adapted from Rhee Drummond on the Food Network

1 medium white onion
6 Tablespoons butter (3/4 stick butter)
2 -14.5 oz cans diced or whole tomatoes in juice
48 oz can or bottle tomato juice (optional*)
3-6 Tablespoons sugar
2-3 cubes chicken bullion
freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes (only add these if you want a spicyish taste)
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup freshly chopped basil

Dice the onion and melt the butter in a large, heavy bottomed, pot. When foamy, toss in onions and cook until translucent. Throw in diced tomatoes and tomato juice. If you don't have it, fill one and a half of the cans with water and add to soup.

Next, add one tablespoon of sugar at a time to combat the acidity of the tomatoes. Make sure to taste after each addition. I like to add about 3, but sometimes certain tomatoes have needed six.

In a separate bowl,  add 2 chicken bullion cubes to 2/3 cup of boiling water. Stir until they dissolve and then add chicken base mixture to soup. If the soup still isn't salty enough: mix another cube with a 1/4 cup of boiling water and add.

Add lots of freshly ground black pepper and the red pepper flakes. Bring almost to boil, then turn off.

Stir in heavy cream and chopped basil. Serve with a sprig of basil and some freshly made grilled cheese sandwiches.