free from gluten and the top 8 food allergens<\/p><\/div>\n

We hope you are all keeping warm. With a colder than normal winter for most of the country and more bitter cold weather predicted, we’re in full-blown soup season!<\/p>\n

Tomato soup remains one of the top sellers at the supermarket, right up there with chicken noodle. With most canned soups fully charged with sodium, why not make this simple soup from scratch?<\/p>\n

Bring on the sweetness…<\/p>\n

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How Sweet it is!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Roasting brings out the sweetness of tomatoes and intensifies their flavor.<\/p>\n

This soup can be made without roasting the tomatoes, but the extra step is well worth the effort.<\/p>\n

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While I was making this recipe using canned tomatoes, Joel made a batch with fresh plum tomatoes. We also like using a combination of vine and plum tomatoes.<\/p>\n

In peak season, roasting fresh tomatoes for this recipe is as easy as taking 1-1\/2 pounds of tomatoes, hulling, cutting in half and removing seeds. Toss tomatoes with 2 teaspoons olive oil and season with salt and black pepper. Arrange tomatoes on half of a baking pan lined with foil.<\/p>\n

On the other half of the baking pan, place 1 large chopped yellow onion and 10 garlic cloves which have been tossed together with 1 teaspoon olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper.<\/p>\n

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Roast in an oven heated to 425-degrees F for 30 minutes, turning tomatoes and tossing onions half way through.<\/p>\n

When done and cool enough to handle, remove skin from tomatoes. In a medium saucepan, place the roasted tomatoes, onions, garlic, 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1-1\/2 cups vegetable broth, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1\/2 teaspoon dried basil and 1\/4 teaspoon celery seed. Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and pur\u00e9e using an immersion blender, or allow to cool slightly and pur\u00e9e in a stand blender. This makes 1 quart.<\/p>\n

The Benefits Abound<\/strong><\/p>\n

Furthermore, tomatoes are not just sweet, but loaded with countless health benefits. Tomatoes:<\/p>\n

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• are good for your skin<\/li>\n
• help prevent several types of cancer<\/li>\n
• are high in lycopene, which has been linked with one type of prostate cancer prevention<\/li>\n
• help maintain strong bones<\/li>\n
• provide essential antioxidants<\/li>\n
• are good for your heart<\/li>\n
• are good for your eyes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  Scientifically speaking, a tomato is a fruit, but falls under the “vegetable” category, according to the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

  Did you know that these wonderful tomatoes were believed to be poisonous until the mid 1800s?<\/p>\n

  Let’s warm up with this delicious roasted tomato soup, which is perfect paired with a grilled cheese sandwich<\/a>!<\/p>\n