Tomato Basil Bisque

Cathy has been studying for several months now so she can sit for a national certification examination next Saturday. Some of her coworkers are also taking the test and she has studied with them on the weekends. Today, Samantha came over and they were going over the study materials.















Here they are studying in the back living room.

Before Sam got here we started lunch. Cathy made Herbed Cheese Straws and I made Tomato Basil Bisque.















These are the Cheese Straws ready to go into the oven.















The soup is simmering on the stove with the basil ready to add at the end.















Cheese straws are out of the oven. That's Apple Cake in the lower right, but I'm not talking about that today!





















Soup on the table. Lunch is ready!















Cheese straws. Mmmmmm....

Here is the recipe for the soup:

Tomato Basil Bisque

1 large onion, diced finely

1 tablespoon garlic, minced finely

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 quarts Italian tomatoes

2 cups heavy cream

1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped

salt to taste

freshly ground pepper to taste

In a pan that will hold all the ingredients, sauté onion in olive oil until soft. Add garlic, sauté until lightly browned.

Squish tomatoes between fingers or process in food processor about 5 seconds and add to onion and garlic mixture. Add heavy cream. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 1 hour.

Fold in basil, salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with Herbed Cheese Straws.

Actually, rather than squishing the tomatoes between your fingers, I used an immersion blender, just like Emeril would!!

Enjoy!
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