Well thanks ya'll. I just dug up this thread when ysop was looking for senate bean soup recipe. Glad you and your family enjoyed it Judi. Smiles. I eat soup for breakfast and lunch generally until I'm done with the curernt batch that is unfrozen. I just finished my first gallon of lentil soup, so tonight I am going to brine the beans for this bean soup. I just started brining the beans in the past six months or so and can't believe the difference. The skins are so much more tender and it takes a lot less time to cook the whole soup. The outcome is that you can cook it till the beans are tender without having all the skins come off and floating around. I had just bought a ham to use mostly for soups and froze quart bags of meat and skins to use, but also have the big bone, soooo.. this time I'm making 4 lbs at a time so I can use the big bone. Ah... happy camper. Time to start some artisan bread to go with.

I've had lots of compliments on this one: TOMATO BISQUE (serves 8) 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter 2 TBL olive oil 1 large onion, thinly sliced 1/2 tsp dried thyme 3/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 3 fresh ripe tomatoes 3 TBL tomato paste 1/4 cup flour 3 3/4 cups chicken broth 1 tsp sugar 1 cup heavy cream Chopped fresh dill, if serving cold Heat 1/2 cup of the butter & the oil together in a Dutch oven. Add the onion, thyme, salt & pepper; cook until the onion is wilted. Add the tomatoes & the tomato paste; stir to blend. Simmer 10 minutes. Put the flour in a small bowl. Add 5 TBL broth to the flour; blend well. Stir the flour paste into the tomato mixture. Add the remaining broth & simmer, stirring frequently for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat & cool. Pour the cooled mixture into a blender or processor; blend well. Strain the mixture. Add sugar & cream to the strained mixture & simmer 5 minutes. Add the remaining 1/4 cup butter. Serve hot or cold. If serving cold, sprinkle w/fresh dill.~~Uptown Down South

Here are some that I like. Le MadeleineÂs Tomato Basil Soup --4 cups (8 to 10) tomatoes, peeled, cored, chopped or 4 cups canned whole tomatoes, crushed --4 cups tomato juice or mix of juice with vegetable or chicken stock --12-14 washed basil leaves --1 cup whipping cream --1/2 cup butter (1 whole stick) --Salt & Pepper Combine tomatoes and juice in a large pan and simmer over medium-low heat for 30 minutes. Cool then put into blender or food processor along with basil to puree. Return to pan and add cream and butter over low heat to warm. Add salt and pepper to taste. Will serve approximately 6 to 8 people. **I use this basic recipe, but I include a couple of cloves of minced garlic. Also, I do not put the tomato-basil mixture into the blender. I prefer the texture of the soup with chunks of tomatoes and basil. I also add both freshly ground black and white pepper along with the salt. Also, I have substituted the tomato juice with V-8 juice. It is whatever you prefer. My version: LINDAÂS CHUNKY TOMATO BASIL SOUP --4 cups (8 to 10) tomatoes chopped or 4 cups canned whole tomatoes --4 cups tomato juice or V-8 juice (you can use spicy if you like a little heat) --1/4 cup finely cut sweet yellow onion --2 or 3 garlic cloves, minced --12-14 washed & dried basil leaves, chiffonade --1 cup heavy whipping cream --1/2 cup butter (1 whole stick) --Kosher Salt --Freshly ground white & black Pepper Combine tomatoes, juice, onion and garlic in a large pan and simmer over medium-low heat for 30 minutes. Add basil, cream and butter and continue to heat over low heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh basil leaves. Serve with hot crusty French bread. CHILLED TOMATO BASIL SOUP 2 cups chopped onion 2 TBL butter, melted 2 cups peeled, seeded & cubed cucumbers 3 cups peeled, cored & cubed tomatoes 3 fresh basil leaves (or more) or 1 tsp dried 2 cups chicken broth 2 cups plain yogurt Salt to taste 1 tsp chopped fresh mint ot to taste Sauté the onion in butter 10 minutes. Add the cucumbers, tomatoes, basil & broth. Cook, stirring frequently for 30 minutes. Remove from heat & cool. Puree the cooked mixture in a blender. Pour into a bowl & blend in the yogurt & salt. Chill thoroughly. Serve garnished with mint.

Either one of these soups would seem to fit the bill. I've made them both the day before but only up to the part before adding the cream. ROASTED RED PEPPER SOUP (originally posted by chase) 4 Red Bell Peppers,roasted, seeded and peeled 2 TBSP Butter (or margarine) 1 Red onion,chopped 2 Garlic cloves,minced 4 cups Chicken broth 1 TBSP Lemon Juice Salt & Pepper to taste Saute onions and garlic in butter until soft. Add red peppers. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes. Add broth cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add lemon juice. Process in food processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Place back on stove until ready to serve. NOTE: To roast the peppers place whole peppers under the broiler or on a hot grill. Turn peppers until blackened on all sides. Place hot peppers in a plastic bag and tie shut. When the peppers have cooled completely remove from the bag. Remove all the skin and seeds. ROASTED GARLIC SOUP WITH PARMESAN CHEESE (from David at THS Cooking forum) 26 garlic cloves (unpeeled) 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter 2 1/4 cups sliced onions 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme 18 garlic cloves, peeled 3 1/2 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth 1/2 cup whipping cream 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 2 ounces) 4 lemon wedges Preheat oven to 350°F. Place 26 garlic cloves in small glass baking dish. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake until garlic is golden brown and tender, about 45 minutes. Cool. Squeeze garlic between fingertips to release cloves. Transfer cloves to small bowl. Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and thyme and cook until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes. Add roasted garlic and 18 raw garlic cloves and cook 3 minutes. Add chicken stock; cover and simmer until garlic is very tender, about 20 minutes. Working in batches, purée soup in blender until smooth. Return soup to saucepan; add cream and bring to simmer. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat, stirring occasionally.) Divide grated cheese among 4 bowls and ladle soup over. Squeeze juice of 1 lemon wedge into each bowl and serve. Serves 4. Note from me: I usually just cut the tops off 2 or 3 (depending on size) whole bulbs of garlic instead of the 26 garlic cloves in the first step and use ½ tsp. dried thyme if fresh is not available. Dont leave out the lemon wedges. This salad has a lighter flavor than many spinach salads. LEMON SPINACH SALAD ½ lb. sliced mushrooms 1 lb. young spinach leaves, washed and stemmed 6 Tbs. olive oil 2 Tbs. lemon juice ¼ tsp. salt 1 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese 1 clove garlic, slivered Finely grated rind of ½ lemon 1 hard cooked egg Freshly ground black pepper Wash mushrooms and combine with spinach. Chill. Mix oil, lemon juice, salt, cheese and garlic. Chop up egg and sprinkle over salad. Add lemon rind to salad and grind pepper on top. Pour dressing over salad right before serving and toss. Note: Best if dressing is made about an hour ahead of time and garlic pieces removed before pouring on salad. Crumbled bacon pieces can be added if desired. Sounds like a terrific way to bring in the New Year. Enjoy!