SOUP AND GRILLED CHEESE RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large sauce pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 4 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste and sugar. Puree mixture in a blender or food processor. If necessary, blend in 2 batches.
• Return puree to pot and add milk, vegetable broth, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer over low heat while preparing sandwiches.
• Butter one side of each bread slice. On unbuttered side of 1 slice, distribute about 1/4 cup cheese. Top with 2 slices Canadian bacon and another 1/4 cup cheese. Top with another slice of bread, unbuttered side down. Repeat step 3 to make 4 sandwiches.
• Place a large grill pan or skillet over medium heat. Place sandwiches in pan and cook until golden, about 5 minutes per side. Cover sandwiches with foil to keep warm.
• Just before serving, stir basil into soup and spoon into bowls. Top with sour cream, if desired. Slice each sandwich diagonally and serve alongside soup.

Steps:

• Make the tomato soup: melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and stir for 6-8 minutes, until the onions just start to brown.
• Add the garlic and stir for another minute. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy cream, salt, and pepper.
• Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Remove the soup from heat and transfer to a blender. Remove vent so that steam can escape. Blend for 2 minutes, until the soup is smooth and thick. Alternatively, leave the soup in the pot and use an immersion blender.
• Make the grilled cheese bowl: cut the crusts off the bread and set aside in a medium bowl.
• Arrange the bread slices into 3 lines: a line of 5, a line of 4, and a line of 2.
• In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and garlic and use a brush to spread the mixture over each piece of bread.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Brush the bottom of each slice in egg wash and then dab the bottom of each piece of bread in the line of 5 and the line of 4. Dab all four sides of the bread in the group of 2. Overlap the edges of the 5 pieces of bread, then press the edges together to adhere. Repeat with the line of 4.
• In a greased medium oven-safe bowl, place one of the single slices of bread. Then, take the line of 5 slices and make it into a circle on the inside of the bowl. Press down the edges to adhere to the piece of bread at the bottom of the bowl.
• Cover the bread with 6 slices of cheese. Lay the remaining single slice of bread over the cheese, then make a circle with the line of 4 slices of bread, pressing to seal the edges and adhere to the bread below. Lay the remaining slice of cheese on the bottom.
• Using a small bowl, press down on the bread bowl to compress slightly.
• Bake for 15 minutes, until the bread is golden brown.
• Make the crouton fries: Add the olive oil, oregano, pepper, and salt to the bowl with the crusts. Toss until thoroughly coated. Transfer the crusts to a large baking sheet.
• Bake for 5 minutes, until the crusts are golden brown.
• Remove the bowl and crouton fries from oven. Use tongs to move the bread bowl from the bowl to a serving dish. Fill with tomato soup.
• Enjoy!