A soup of tomatoes

Easy Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Croutons

Made: September 14, 2012

Ingredients
Tomato Soup
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cups yellow onions, chopped (2 onions)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
- Large pinch of saffron threads
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup orzo
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- GCC

Grilled Cheese Croutons
- 4 slices white bread
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 4 oz Gruyère cheese, grated

Directions
Tomato Soup
- In a large pot or dutch oven, heat the olive oil on medium heat
- Add the onions and cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden brown
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute
- Stir in the chicken stock, tomatoes, saffron, salt & pepper
- Bring soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes
- Meanwhile, fill a medium pot with water and bring to a boil
- Add the orzo and cook for 7 minutes (It will finish in the soup)
- Drain and add it to the soup
- Stir in the cream
- Return the soup to a simmer and cook for 10 more minutes, stirring frequently
- Serve hot with GCC scattered on top

Grilled Cheese Croutons
- Heat panini grill
- Place the four slices of bread on a cutting board and brush lightly with the melted butter, being sure to butter the corners
- Turn the slices over and pile the cheese on two of the slices
- Place the remaining two slices of bread on top, buttered side up.
- Grill the sandwiches on the panini grill for about 5 minutes, until nicely browned
- Place on a cutting board, allow to rest for 1 minute and cut into 1 inch cubes

I didn't make these "special" grilled cheese. I think American style grilled cheese in a frying pan worked just as well with the flavors of the soup. I thought I had diced tomatoes, but I didn't ... so I used stewed tomatoes that I cut up personally. I also didn't use that much onion or garlic ... I used about 1/4 of an onion and garlic powder and salt instead. But I really did like the soup and the GCC were a new touch that I liked anyway since I like to dip my Grilled Cheese in my Tomato soup :)