Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup

"Soup of the evening, beautiful soup"-  Lewis Carrol


I have experimented in the soup recipe category this week! This recipe is a keeper! It was a huge hit as well.  They ranked this slurpy soup #2 just after the Spicy Tuscan Soup.  The basil made my Little Ones think that it smelled like spaghetti. I know the recipe says it serves 8 but I have a good bit left and I will probably try to freeze it to see how it turns out.




The photo and recipe came from here

Makes about 2 quarts (about 8 servings)
2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice     (I used diced tomatoes with basil and oregano in the can)
1 cup finely diced celery   (I used 4 stocks of celery)
1 cup finely diced carrots  (I used 6 carrots)
1 cup finely diced onions
1 tsp dried oregano or 1 T fresh oregano
1 T dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil
4 cups chicken broth
½ bay leaf
½ cup flour
1 cup Parmesan cheese   (I used 1 1/2 cup of Parmesan Cheese)
½ cup butter
2 cups half and half, warmed - or skim milk if you’re trying to cut some calories  (I used half and half)
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper

1. Add tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, oregano, basil, and bay leaf to a large slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-7 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft.
3. About 30 minutes before serving prepare a roux. Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add flour. Stir constantly with a whisk for 5-7 minutes. Slowly stir in 1 cup hot soup. Add another 3 cups and stir until smooth. Add all back into the slow cooker. Stir and add the Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt and pepper. Add additional basil and oregano if needed (the slow cooker does a number on spices and they get bland over time, so don’t be afraid to always season to taste at the end).
4. Cover and cook on LOW for another 30 minutes or so until ready to serve.