Friday, September 30, 2011

REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 'FADING MEMORIES' ~ ROASTED TOMATO GARLIC SOUP

"I trust in Nature for the stable laws of beauty and utility.
Spring shall plant and Autumn garner to the ends of time."

~ Robert Browning

Annabelle Abstract
'Fading Memories'

"We do not remember days; we remember moments."

~ Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand



Remember September


ROASTED TOMATO GARLIC SOUP
~ awesome Autumn fare, perfect while tomatoes are still in abundance
(slightly adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

Soup

3 lbs. plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2-4 'upeeled' large cloves garlic
1 tsp. finely choppped fresh thyme leaves or 1/4 tsp dried
1/4 tsp. (or more to taste) dried crushed red pepper
4 cups organic chicken or vegetable stock

Topping

4 slices rye bread
(toasted until hard and lightly buttered on one side)
1 Tbsp. grated raw red onion
1 cup (or more) coarsely grated white cheddar

  • Soup: Preheat oven to 400º. Wrap garlic cloves in tight foil packet. Place tomatoes, cut side up, on large baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle tomatoes with olive oil. Add foil packet of garlic to tray. Roast until tomatoes are brown and tender (garlic will be very tender), about 1 hour or longer depending on thickness of tomates. Cool slightly. (Can be made ahead, refrigerated, and reheated before finishing recipe.)
  • Unwrap garlic packet and peel or squeeze garlic from peel. Transfer garlic, tomatoes and any accumulated juiced to a blender or food processor and pulse machine on and off until tomatoes are a chunky puree. Transfer tomatoes to medium pot and add thyme, crushed red pepper and stock and bring t a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 25 mintutes. Remove from heat and adjust seasonings to taste.
  • Topping: Preheat oven to 350º. Arrange four ovenproof soup bowls or crocks on large foil-ined baking sheet. Float toast slice in each bowl, buttered side up and divide grated cheese generously over top. Top with grated red onion. Bake on tray for 15-20 minutes, until cheese on top is bubbling and brown at the edges. (If desired and needs more browning, preheat broiler and finish for a minute or two under broiler.) Serve immediately. (4 servings)
Note: Easily doubled ... the soup is delicious and stands on its own.


17 comments:

Kala said...

Beautiful light in the top image of the hydrangeas. I cannot believe September is almost over Joey - it went too fast!

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

My (your) turtlehead bloomed really well and somehow I didn't get a photo! :( Um, I always add a ton of garlic powder to my condensed tomato soup--not quite the same as your recipe but it does add a little sumpin-sumpin to the canned kind! :)

Andrea said...

These are very Joey-ish mosaics, which i always enjoy. But the light on that first photos is wonderful, i really love it. I am not so engrossed in recipes because i don't cook well, i guess it will be nice to copy.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

That effect on the hydrangea is beautiful. I am always amazed at your mosaics, I still haven't practiced this skill. The soup sounds delicious something my family would love.

Eileeen

Rose said...

Lovely memories to get us through the winter ahead, Joey. Fresh tomatoes will soon be a memory, too--there's a chance of frost in the forecast for tonight.

RURAL said...

Gorgeous photos, like always...I do love your work.

And I saw this recipe yesterday on FB from your post. This is one that I am going to have to try. It even sounds delicious.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

joey said...

Back home after a long weekend away, dear Kala. Thank you fun sharing friend.

Go for it, Monica! All is good ... but where did summer go! I'm easing into fall, especially after seeing all the color beginning to peak UP NORTH this past weekend. I'm gettin' there ... embracing autumn ... slowly but surely.

Cute comment, Andrea! Yes, it's 'so me' ... trying to condense huge parts of life into a simple time 'collage/mosaic' box :)

Thank you, Eileen. Late in responding to comments since away for the long lovely weekend. This is good ... if you do try, let me know if you enjoyed the recipe. While tomatoes are still in season, a good time to try.

Happy October, dear Rose! I'm still searching for good tomatoes at local farmer's market's ... a taste that haunts me in the doldrums of winter where tomatoes are bland and tasteless.

Thanks dear Jen. I so admire your fine work too, dear friend. Aw, this is good ... enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful "Fading Memories". As for your mosaics it's a treat to see them...always!

Happy Autumn, Joey!

imac said...

Great captures Joey, soup too.

Kathleen said...

That is a beautiful hydrangea photo Joey. Looks like you have a lot of gorgeous fall bloomers looking at your collage. I am SO NOT ready for everything to wind down. It seems like it goes faster every year. I feel horrible wishing away the winters just to get to summer too.
The soup sounds yummy.

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Hi Joey, Roasted tomato garlic soup! Now doesn't that sound delicious! Perfect fair for a cool fall evening.

Pat said...

Tomato and garlic...I'm in love.
Eat them almost every night.
Saving this post !

Rob (ourfrenchgarden) said...

Can't believe September's been and gone. We've still got plenty of local tomatoes, October has almost been a continuation of Summer - so far!

tina said...

I would love to visit you someday just to smell the odors that must come from your kitchen. Roasted tomato garlic soup must be heavenly this time of the year. Your orange fall colors are spectacular. We don't see a lot of oranges down here so that might be why I'm so partial to the oranges.

joey said...

Happy Autumn, Kanak, and thank you fun friend.

Thanks iMac :)

Kathleen, you sound just like me! My head is already rushing toward spring (and it sounds like we are in for a doozy of a winter ... even worse/harder than last).

Thanks Tina ... I'm all about good smells :)

It is delicious, Jennifer. In fact, so delicious I'm preparing it again for the weekend getaway.

While 'good' tomatoes are still easy to find, do hope you give it a try and let me know, Patsi. I love this!

We too have had awesome weather, Rob, but are now in for cooler days/nights. Enjoy this while the harvest is still good. (Don't forget the wine :)

Do come, Tina! I will make you something that smells good ... maybe even orange :)

Anonymous said...

I'm not much for photo editing, but the annabelle abstract is a thing of beauty!

joey said...

Thank you, Jewel. Considering, the Annabelles are still looking spiffy.