Apple Charlotte's Creamy Tomato Soup

Ingredients

• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large can tomatoes, pureed, rinse can w/1/2 c h20
• 1 large can whole tomatoes, + juice, rinse w/1C h20
• 16-20 fresh peeled, seeded tomatoes, in place of canned
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 large bag fresh basil, leaves removed
• 2 cups bechemel sauce
• 2 cups cream, if desired
• Tabasco sauce, to taste
• salt/pepper to taste
• sugar to taste, a bit

Method

• Sweat onions, celery, bell pepper and garlic. Add tomatoes and chix stock and cook about 20 minutes. Add basil and cook another 5 minutes. Puree. Whisk in bechemel. Add more stock to thin if necessary. Taste to season with Tabasco, salt (if needed), pepper, and a bit of sugar to soften acid edge. Fabulous!!

Notes

• Description:
• "Almost like we use to get as kids.....only better! Great with
• Grilled Cheese on Homemade Bread....yum"
• SERVINGS: 12