Savory, Easy Tomato & Mushroom Soup

If you grew tomatoes this year, you know it's that time when it takes more than some salads and sandwiches to use the massive harvest that's happening within the last few weeks (up here in the Pacific Northwest anyway!).  Fresh tomatoes in a bowl on the counter is a favorite sight, and it gets our cook's creativity flowing.

Tomatoes shown here in our Slash 10" Bubble Glass Bowl in Gold.

Tomato Soup is always on our list because it's so simple and only takes a few ingredients to make it delicious. We decided to also add mushrooms this time because it feels like Fall this week and it makes the soup slightly heartier.

Our simple recipe follows and please leave comments on how yours turns out, or if you want to add your own variations on Tomato Soup or any other tomato recipes!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 to 2 quarts tomatoes (we used small-to-medium tomatoes and used about 15-17)
• 10 0z of sliced mushrooms (any kind) - Trader Joes has 10 oz bags already sliced
• 1 quart reduced sodium Swanson Chicken Broth (the most flavorful broth we've found)
• small onion - big chop
• 5 cloves garlic  - big chop
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil (love this flavor but you can use a neutral olive or vegetable oil)
  
• 4 bay leaves
• Salt & pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

• Pull the green stems off the tomatoes and cut in half.
• Chop onion and garlic.
• Heat coconut oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic.
• When onion and garlic have browned, add mushrooms. Stir and cook through another 5-7 minutes, until mushrooms start to brown.
• Add chicken broth, tomatoes and bay leaves. Heat through then lower heat to medium low.
  
• Let simmer for 30 minutes.

• Turn off the flame and remove the bay leaves with a slotted spoon.
  
• Puree with an immersion blender.
  (you can do a standard blender but this is so much easier.  If you do a standard blender wait until it cools so you don't risk burning yourself.)
  
• Puree the soup until smooth. Salt & pepper to taste.
  

Serve with some crumbled feta or goat cheese on top and some side crackers. Enjoy!

Tamara Childs products shown (with Shop links):

10" Slash Bubble Glass Bowl in Gold (tomatoes)
6" Solid Bubble Glass Bowl in Starburst (soup)
5" Slash Bubble Glass Bowl in Gold (crackers)
10.25" Wine Glass with Gold Zig Zag pattern on ball

Tamara Childs 6" Bubble Glass Bowl in Starburst