My search is over! For years (or so it seems) I have been trying to find the perfect tomato soup recipe. I've tried too creamy ones, too tomatoey ones (yes, I know that's not a word but work with me), bland ones, hot ones, but to borrow the words of Goldilocks, this recipe was "just right". With the simple ingredients, it's surprising how yummy it is, and not to mention healthy- until you top it off with loads of good cheese and serve it up with fries-- heh heh...

Ingredients:
1 Tbs olive oil
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 onion, diced
1 carrot, grated
1 14oz can diced tomatoes
1 cup vegetable stock (I'm sure you can use chicken stock if you don't have veggie)
1 teaspoon basil (2 tsp if you're a basil fanatic like me)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Optional:
2 Tbs cream
Shredded cheese for topping

Directions:
Pour a round of oil into a pot

Add onions, garlic, and carrot and sauté until onions are clear

Pour in the whole can of tomatoes and the vegetable stock. Add basil and salt and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 15-20min to let the flavors combine.

With a blender or hand blender, blend (or as the Brits say, "whizz") the soup to a marinara type consistency. Add cream if you wish and top with cheese! Yummers!