Susie, that restaurant looks good! Here are a couple of tomato soup recipes that we like. Winter Tomato Soup Source: Marie-Pierre MoineÂs French kitchen Serves 4 2T butter 1 Spanish onion, finely chopped 1 leek, washed and sliced 1 carrot, peeled and chopped 1 small head celery, trimmed and chopped 6 large ripe tomatoes, blanched ,skinned and seeded (or 1 large can tomatoes) 1/2 tsp each dried thyme and oregano 2 tsp finely snipped basil 1 heaping T flour 1 quart light chicken stock 1 egg yolk 4 T heavy cream Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper In a sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Ad onion, leek, carrot and celery. Season and sauté 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in tomatoes, the dried herbs and half the basil. Cook for one minute then sprinkle the flour, stir and cook 2-3 minutes longer. Pour in stock and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat, partially cover and cook 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Leave the soup to cool a few minutes, then process in blender or food processor until smooth. Return to pan and adjust seasoning. In a bowl, mix the egg yolk and cream. Stir in a ladleful of the soup, then stir mixture into pan over low heat until piping hot. Stir in the remaining basil and serve immediately. Tomato Bisque with Tortellini 1\-1/2 c diced tomatoes 1\-1/2 c tomato sauce 3/4 c bloody mary mix 1\-1/2 tsp fresh basil 1/4 tsp italian seasoning 2 c heavy cream 1/4 c chicken base 1/4 tsp dried thyme 1/4 tsp white pepper 1 T sugar 1/4 c grated parmesan cheese 1/2 lb tortellini Combine all ingredients except tortellini and cheese in stock pot. Bring to low boil then remove from heat and add parmesan. Blend with stick blender or in food processor until smooth. Return to pot and simmer. Meanwhile cook tortellini in boiling water 5\-7 minutes or until tender, add to soup and serve, garnish with parsley flakes. My note: original recipe calls for 2T sugar, I reduced it because I donÂt like much sweetness. You can add more if you like Linda

Not sure if I have a favorite - probably New England Clam Chowder, but I never make that. Yesterday I made minestrone, and here is the recipe I used: Minestrone Soup Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup minced white onion (about 1/2 small onion) 1/3 cup minced celery (about 1 stalk) 2 chopped zucchinis, chopped 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2-3 cloves) 2 cups water or vegetable broth 2 tsp vegetable soup base (if broth is not used - dissolve in the 2 cups water) 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes (or whole tomatoes pur�ed in can) 1/4 cup carrots, shredded 2-4 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 1 to 1 1/2 cups water or vegetable soup base 1 to 1-1/2 tsp vegetable soup base (dissolved in the water, if broth not used) 2/3 cup small shell pasta (orzo, or similar) 1-3/4 cups cooked red kidney beans, drained* 1-3/4 cups cooked small white beans or great northern beans, drained* 2 cups fresh baby spinach (optional) 2 tbsp tomato paste or 1 tbsp tomato powder salt, to taste, if soup base is not used Directions: Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Saut� onion and celery in the oil for 4-5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent. Add the zucchini and garlic and saute a couple of minutes more. Add vegetable broth to pot, plus tomatoes, carrot, and spices. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Add additional 1 cup hot water/vegetable broth (more, if needed), pasta, beans, spinach leaves (if desired), and tomato paste, and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until desired consistency. Less water will be needed if the spinach is used. Add salt to taste, if you are not using soup base. I use Better Than Bouillon brand vegetable soup base or one that I get from a restaurant supply store. Use more parsley if you are not adding spinach. *Note: I use 7/8 cup of each dried bean to yield the amount needed and cook the beans earlier in the day or the day before in plain water with a couple of bay leaves. I simmer them in the same pan. Alternatively, canned beans can be used (14 oz can each), drained and rinsed. Another favorite is Posole: Lars' Posole I recommend that you soak more hominy than you need, and you can freeze the leftover for later use. It is best to use hominy that is in pieces rather than whole kernals. Ingredients 3/4 cup dried white hominy corn (maiz trillado blanco) - about 2-1/2 to 3 cups when soaked - rinsed canned hominy can be substituted 2 tbsp canola oil 2 tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 6-7 cloves garlic, minced, or finely chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 green bell pepper (or 2 Anaheim chilies), chopped 4 serrano peppers, finely chopped, some seeds removed 1 tbsp cumin 2 tbsp chili powder (I use Ancho) 1 10 oz can of Rotel tomatoes (or tomatoes with chilies) 4-5 bouillon cubes (vegetable flavor) 2 cups water (or reserved liquid from soaking) Cilantro, for garnish Grated cheddar cheese (optional) Directions To quick soak the hominy, place it in a pan and cover with triple depth of water. Bring to a boil, cover, and remove from heat. Allow to soak for about 2-3 hours, and then drain the water. You may need to check periodically to make sure there is enough water covering the hominy. Save the soaking water if you want to use it as a thickener for this or another dish. While the hominy is soaking (or almost ready), you can begin the rest of the process, starting with chopping all the vegetables. The pieces should be fairly small, but not minced, except for the garlic and serrano peppers. Heat the oils in a large saucepan (Mine is 4" deep) and add the chopped onion, peppers, and garlic. Saute for a few minutes, or until the onion becomes a bit translucent - it does not need to cook thoroughly, and you do not want to make the vegetables too soft. Turn off the heat, and stir in the cumin and chili powder. Add the canned tomatoes, bouillon cubes, water, and drained hominy. Bring to a boil, and cook covered for about 20 minutes. Serve in individual soup bowls with chopped cilantro, stirred in at the last minute. You can also add grated cheese if desired. Some people add lime juice, but I prefer to leave it out. It is traditional to serve this with shredded cabbage and fresh lime juice, but I did not know this when I made up this recipe. Mine is vegetarian, but it is usually made with pork in Mexico. Lars

I wish I could remember who posted this on the daily recipe thread. I made it and its good! Cabbage Roll Soup 1 lb ground beef 1 onion Put in soup pot & brown hamburger & onion. Then add: 6-8 cups beef broth 1 can diced tomatoes oregano or Italian spice to taste 1/2 cup rice 1/2 cabbage, shredded. Simmer for at least an hour When I make this recipe, I usually at least double it or more then freeze in individual servings to take on lunches I love cream of Cabbage soup....I am the only one here that does though. Creamed Cabbage Soup Serves: 8 2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans chicken broth 2 ribs celery chopped 1 medium head cabbage, shredded (3 pounds) 1 medium onion, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 1/4 cup butter or margarine 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 cups half and half 1 cup milk 2 cups cubed fully cooked ham 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme Chopped fresh parsley In a large soup kettle or Dutch oven, combine broth, celery, cabbage, onion and carrot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add flour, salt and pepper; stir to form a smooth paste. Combine cream and milk; gradually add to flour mixture, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until thickened; continue cooking 1 minute longer. Gradually stir into vegetable mixture. Add ham and thyme and heat through. Garnish with parsley. ** I leave the thyme and parsley out

this one is the best!! Okay, are you ready? Here we go: · 1 head cabbage, shredded or chopped · 2 large onions, chopped · 16-28 ounces canned tomatoes, chopped · 2 green peppers · 4 stalks celery · 1-2 packages Lipton onion soup mix, or any dry onion soup mix (optional) · black pepper · any fresh herb(s) of your choice, chopped · 6 carrots, sliced · 1/2 pound green beans, sliced on diagonal · 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (optional) Day One: Fruit: Eat all of the fruit you want (except bananas). Eat only your soup and the fruit for the first day. For drinks- unsweetened teas, cranberry juice and water. Day Two: Vegetables: Eat until you are stuffed will all fresh, raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. Try to eat leafy green vegetables and stay away from dry beans, peas and corn. Eat all the vegetables you want along with your soup. At dinner, reward yourself with a big baked potato with butter. Do not eat fruit today. Day Three: Mix Days One and Two: Eat all the soup, fruits and vegetables you want. No Baked Potato. Day Four: Bananas and Skim Milk: Eat as many as eight bananas and drink as many glasses of skim milk as you would like on this day, along with your soup. This day is supposed to lessen your desire for sweets. Day Five: Beef And Tomatos: Ten to twenty ounces of beef and up to six fresh tomtoes. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water this day to wash the uric acid from your body. Eat your soup at least once this day. You may eat broiled or baked chicken instead of beef (but absolutely no skin-on chicken). If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for the beef one one of the beef days (but not both). Day Six: Beef and Vegetables: Eat to your heart's content of beef and vegetables this day. You can even have 2 or 3 steaks if you like, with leafy green vegetables. No Baked Potato. Eat your soup at least once. Day Seven: Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables: Again stuff, stuff, stuff yourself. Be sure to eat your soup at least once this day