Paradajková polievka

Today's home meal is tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich. I grew up in Czechoslovakia and then later Slovakia. After the fall of the Soviet Union home life did not change too much. The green house always had yummy tomatoes later in the spring.

SOUP

Always start with ripe tomatoes to get full flavor. Choose heirloom or similar variety. These awesome tomatoes are from Smith Family Farm in Brentwood, California, USA.

Cut each tomato into 8 wedges. Bake in oven for 60 minutes with olive oil. Back then we did not have EVOO from the west. Well geographically Italy is south of Slovakia. Table salt contains iodine and tastes like medicine. Kosher salt has no iodine, Pink Himalayan and sea salt only have trace amounts. Soup stock already has sodium so don't add too much during cooking. 

Sautée onion, garlic, carrot, celery, butter in a big pot. Add stock and tomatoes let simmer. Use a hand immersion mixer to thoroughly blend all the ingredients. Let pot reduce. Serve with cream and basil.

Ingredients serve 6.

8 pounds of tomatoes

1 onion

1 bunch of chopped celery

10 cloves of garlic

1 sliced carrot

48 oz of chicken stock

1/8 stick of butter (optional)

basil

sea salt

creme

SANDWICH

Did you know most grilled cheese sandwiches are fried not grilled?  Melt butter and sourdough bread. Add sliced cheddar and second bread slice. I prefer a cheese that melts easily but does not become too oily. Turn over. If you like to to dip bread in your soup then grill your sandwhiches crispyer.

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