I never had it made with water. We always used milk. It makes it creamer. Grilled cheese and tomato soup is a great all American comfort food. We use to have it quite a bit on Fridays when I was a kid.

Yup. Little kid lunch we call it. The soup is not the same. I use less milk to concentrate the flavor. I like grilled cheese with a few hamburger dill slices inside. DH cannot eat them that way. Purist.

We have it regularly. It doesn't taste different but maybe it's a little less intense in flavor. I don't fill the can with water--maybe an inch shy of the top. The chicken noodle soup also tastes weaker. I add Better than Bouillon to it.

I haven’t had the soup in a long time. Love grilled cheese sandwiches but they have to be cut on an angle just like mom did whenever I was sick. Good memories.

Second the recommendation for the Trader Joe's Tomato soup or the red pepper tomato soup. They’re both yummy. As for grilled cheese, I love it with a slice of tomato or tart apple slice.

Another vote for the Trader Joe's, and it also comes in a low sodium version that really is low sodium. It's the only tomato soup that doesn't give me too much stomach acid trouble, too.

AT our Kroger there is the regular Campbell's Tomato and the Heart Healthy with the red heart on the label.

I had lunch with a friend the other day and the special was tomato basil soup and half a grilled cheese sandwich. Yum!

It's been years since I had that combo and it really hit the spot.

I used to like Campbell’s tomato bisque but haven’t tried it in years. Most canned soups aren’t very good in my opinion. I do keep a can of chicken noodle or Liptons on hand because they help if someone is sick.

I like Campbells tomato soup. Its the only canned soup I eat or like. We have tomato soup and grilled cheese often in the winter. About every two weeks. The kids would like it more often but twice a month is plenty.

Natesg...I chuckled at you liking your grilled cheese cut at an angle...that's how I cut the boys.

Elizabeth. My husband will only eat grilled cheese if its on italian bread with dill hamburger slices. LOL.

Morz8, I'm positive. Yes, have eaten homegrown tomatoes in my grilled cheese. I don't buy store bought ones because they have no taste. I think I've had the Trader Joe's brand but can't remember what it tasted like. I did like their squash soup.

DH makes this a lot - doesn't care about calories so Campbell's Tomato soup made with milk and butter ( and sometimes with a teaspoon of sugar )- it's orange and very rich. The grilled cheese he makes with it also don't stint on butter. I just don't agree with him on the hamburger dills for garnish.

Usually I make my own tomato soup from fresh tomatoes but sometimes we just want something quick and easy so it’s Heinz “Big Red” soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.

ALL sandwiches have to be cut into triangles, any other shape just doesn’t taste as good. I used to be so disappointed when Mom cut my sandwiches into squares...

Oh, OK then Kath. I was hoping the combination of tomatoes and cheese would satisfy your craving for the soup and sandwich ;0)

I can make tomato soup so quickly I have little reason to buy canned...but will share with you that several years ago I had a craving for a grade school lunch we had often, 'penny soup' which was hot dogs sliced into tomato soup. Made it (or rather heated it, I didn't make the hot dogs or the soup ;0). It was awful. A memory squelched.

Whenever I was sick I would crave Campbells tomato soup made with water with milk added after heating and sprinkled with basil. Picked some up several months ago when I wasn't feeling well and it was sweet and not as usual. I donated the other 2 cans to the food bank. Won't be buying it again.

Not a lover of tomato soup, but love love love grilled cheddar on rye with chili

I agree that the plain, regular Campbell's soup isn't the same nowdays. I've always made it with milk and it seems very "flat" tasting. We don't have many choices here, and so far I haven't found one that tastes good to me.

The last time I looked at Campbell's soups. I could not eat any of those because the salt (sodium) content of one serving contained my entire daily sodium needs. Their soups have been very heavy with salt. If you got a 'heart' healthy can of tomato soup, compare the label to a regular can. I'll bet the sodium content of the 'healthy' can is lower, much lower, and that will affect the taste of tomato based items.

Another factor is the tomato itself. A number of today's tomatoes have been bred for production and appearance, and for some the acid content and taste has been altered.

A third possibility is the recipe. The amount of real tomato may have been reduced and replaced by other items.

I always used to make canned tomato soup with half water and half milk. After about 20 years of marriage, DH said he preferred it with all water as his mother used to make it. He might have spoken up a little sooner!

I always liked it with all water. However the condensed soup was actually condensed back then and had a lot of body even made with water.

I picked up a can about a year ago. It was so sweet it was sickening. It was never a big favorite of mine but definitely won't be buying it again.

I don't know how old the OP is, but between the age of 40 -50 the taste buds decrease and others shrink. So somethings don't taste the same as when you were younger. Sometimes the loss of smell will also alter how food tastes. When this happens bolder flavors and more spices help.

I prefer the "light" Campbell's tomato soup, not as syrupy sweet as the regular type. I like to add a couple of thin slices of onion to my grilled cheese sandwich before grilling - yummy!

Another great addition to a grilled cheese sandwich is a green chili (the canned kind). Delicious!

After having wonderful think and creamy tomato soup in Europe, I switched from using regular milk to half & half and use the Aldi's canned soup. Now if only I could get the dollop of creme fraiche they put in it. Tomato soup & grilled cheese are a traditional winter comfort food for us.

Stacey, I like your onion idea, what onion variety do you use?

The Trader Joe's low sodium version is about as tasteless as the Campbell's offering.

The regular version described by Elmer is high salt and sugar. Probably why we like it.

Amy's soup is the same, high salt and sugar content so you'll have to consume a half serving if you're looking for healthy foods. It only requires a 1/3 cup for sandwich dipping.

Back in my student days a favorite meal of mine was macaroni with Campbell's tomato soup, browned ground beef and onions baked in a casserole dish.

I have a can of Campbell's tomato soup on my shelf....it's "not" calling my name. I make it with coffee creamer and my brother used to put a pat of real butter on it. I can wait....it's just not that good. My favorite was/is Campbell's Pepperpot soup. It's hard to find or has to be special ordered by the case. And no the tomato soup has not changed.

My family always used water to make Campbell's Tomato Soup, and I never particularly liked it. My father in law made it with milk and in my opinion it was very much better. Sometimes to fancy it up, he would even add a splash of red vermouth or maybe red sherry (IIRC)

I have been steadily using less and less salt in my cooking, and now find most commercial soups almost unbearably salty.

My favorite used to be Scotch Broth. No longer made I believe.

Raye, can you not find creme fraiche in your market? It is sold in all of the supermarkets that I frequent, maybe you should look around a little more.

Nope, unfortunately none of the local stores carry it. I live in a small town and have very limited grocery stores. :( I'll have to try out-of-town, just haven't gotten to doing so.

Creme fraiche seems to have become a staple of most grocery stores in my area. Trader Joes seems to have the cheapest price around.

I used to love eating Campbell's tomato soup but I don't remember to buy it unless I see my sister in law buy some when we go shopping. As a child I loved to butter my bread and rip it up and put it in the soup so the soup gets all sopped up into the bread. My sister used to add a thick slice of cheddar cheese to her soup so it would melt in the soup. The last time I had some it tasted the same as it always did. I only make it with water as well. I find when it is made with milk the soup has no taste. I made the perfect grilled cheese sandwich last week and as I was transfering it to my plate the sandwich fell off the lifter onto the floor. Misty almost gobbled it up but I stopped her before she could burn her mouth. She had a my beautiful sandwich when it cooled off. and that was the last of my cheese and bread.

Creme fraiche is also super easy to make at home! Whipping/heavy cream and buttermilk and let sit out overnight.

Safeway makes ther own soups and their tomato basil soup is excellent. Fresh in the refrigerated section. I also like Trader Joe's and the similar boxed products available under the Pacific label - tomato and roasted red pepper and tomato (other flavors also excellent).

ETA: I was also a big fan of Campbell's Scotch Broth. Was available in Canada for awhile but I believe it has now been totally discontinued. I did try making my own but it wasn't even close to being the same.

Raye, in a glass container pour one cup heavy or whipping cream, add one tablespoon buttermilk, cover tightly. Allow to sit on your counter for at least twelve hours or until its as thick as you like. Store in the fridge for up to two weeks. Delicious homemade creme fraiche as simple as that.

Add me to the group of who doesn't like canned tomato soup. I make my own tomato bisque with canned tomatoes and a stick blender. Well, not that simple but pretty much.

It's the salt and sugar content that I find so sickening in the canned products.

Canned tomatoes can be very convenient (as with making "pasta" sauce) but we try to avoid cans altogether because of BPA usage. There's an Italian "canned" tomato producer named Pomi that sells a chopped tomato product in aseptic boxes that we can find around here. Something about using that instead of canned products seems better.

Raye - I use whatever onions I have on hand to use in grilled cheese sandwiches.

Regarding the cutting of sandwiches on an angle, when I was young, I used to look with envy at the lunchtime sandwiches of a school friend that were cut diagonally into triangles. They looked so much more delicious than mine that were cut, at most, at angle, but never diagonally. lol!

Kathsgarden, if you have a save a lot in your area, try the kaskeys tomato soup. Its very good. I recently bought Campbells chicken noodle soup, and it ended up in the trash too. Flavorless, and even the grandkids wouldnt eat it. I usually buy that in Kaskey too, and we all love it.

My husband loves Campbell’s tomato soup made with milk. I hate it - too sweet. I do miss Campbell’s pea soup which has been discontinued. Why, when they have truly yucky soups available. As for tomatoes, have any of you tried the Kumato (brown hydroponic) tomatoes. They are delicious - not mealy and not acidic.

I prefer Campbell's Tomato Bisque soup. And I always add a bit of sugar to my tomato soup - it can be very acidic. I'm not a fan of cream of tomato soup, but do like a dollop of plain yoghurt or creme fraiche on top.

Same here, the only canned soup I'll eat is the Campbells tomato. I made it with milk but usually do water. My newest trick is parmesan cheese and red pepper chili flakes...even the leftover packets the pizza places give you. Gives it a kick. Then I float Ritz crackers and proceed to eat.

Kathleen, I buy the one in the picture. It's a bit spensive at Sprouts, but I also found it at Big Lots, for only $3.50

Lots of servings for a single person... but I have had no problems freezing and then nuking it.

Kat, I've had the Save A Lot brand before but can't remember what it tastes like. Just bought a bunch of basic groceries there on Monday. I prefer some of their stuff to more expensive brands, so will have to check the tomato soup out again. Next time I'm in Frankfort, Moni, will look in Big Lots. Provogal, I guess that's why a couple months ago I couldn't find any split pea soup in the stores. I think I bought Amy's (the organic brand) or something and it was awful. When I want split pea soup now I have to buy the dry bags of peas and make it myself.

As for tomatoes, have any of you tried the Kumato (brown hydroponic) tomatoes.

They're the only cherry tomato I buy this time of year.

Progresso has several kinds of tomato soup and it's all delicious, Kath. Good luck on your quest.

I like roasted red bell pepper soup with grilled cheese. I've heard TJ's is good, but it's super easy to make your own. I add serrano pepper to mine for a little bit of heat.

Roasted Red Bell Pepper Soup

2 jars roasted red bell peppers or 4 red bell peppers, roasted, seeded, and peeled

2 tablespoons butter

1/3 cup chopped shallots

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 serrano pepper, minced (optional)

3 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup half & half or heavy cream

salt and pepper, to taste

lemon wedges

Saute shallots, garlic, and serrano in butter until soft. Add red peppers. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes. Add broth, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Puree with immersion blender until smooth. Add half & half or cream. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve with lemon wedges. Don’t forget them! The juice adds a wonderful flavor profile to the finished soup.

Pacific also has much smaller containers than that they are either single or double serving boxes. Many times they are either on the very top or bottoms shelves. Almost like the store does not want to sell them. There are also other brands in small boxes some good some not so good.

catticusmockingbird, can you not get the regular size ones as well? I like them better than the cherry size.

r

I can, but tend to use cherry tomatoes the most. I generally only eat beefsteaks when they're grown in my garden.