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We are expecting our first snow this weekend, so I thought a good soup would be nice.  This is not your mom’s canned soup or grilled cheese.  These are tasty, hearty and easy to whip up.  And the flax cookies are addictive (I can say this because it’s a friend’s recipe).  On the board tonight:

1. Hearty Tomato Soup
2. Totally Awesome Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
3. Flax Cookies

Hearty Tomato Soup

• 28 oz canned tomatoes*
• 1 tsp crushed garlic
• 8 oz carrots
• 2 stalks celery
• 3 green onions, including greens
• 1 tsp basil
• ¼ tsp oregano
• salt & pepper to taste
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tbsp whole wheat flour

2 quart saucepan

In a blender, mix tomatoes, garlic, carrots, celery & onions. Blend until liquid. In saucepan, combine tomato mixture with spices, heat over medium heat, stirring constantly. Let bubble (don’t let boil or use high heat, it will scorch) for 5 minutes. Add flour to cold milk, blend until smooth, add to soup. Let bubble again, reduce to low heat and let simmer for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.

* This is the time to use up any left over garden tomatoes, instead of canned. Blend until you have 4 cups of crushed tomatoes.

Totally Awesome Grilled Cheese

For each sandwich:

• 2 slices whole wheat bread (or favorite firm bread)
• Enough favorite cheese (Velveeta, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, etc.  to cover bread (about 3 slices)
• Sliced Jalapeños (if you want some heat)
• 1 large slice of tomato w/dash of salt
• 1-2 tsp Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
• Butter
• Spray Oil

Spread salad dressing on both slices of bread and add ½ of the cheese to one slice of bread, place tomato & jalapenos on the cheese and top with remaining cheese and the other slice of bread, this keeps bread from getting soggy from the tomato. Lightly butter outside of both sides of the sandwich and grill in skillet sprayed with cooking spray or lightly oiled on medium heat until cheese is melted and bread is toasted. While it is grilling, press down hard with a spatula, “squishing” the sandwich. We don’t know why, but this makes them taste better. 

Flax Cookies

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1 tsp soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup ground flax
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup chopped almonds

Bowl & cookie sheet

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream butter and sugar, add egg, vanilla and beat well. Combine dry ingredients together and then fold into egg mixture until well blended. Mix in almonds and drop by the spoonful onto the cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden, don’t let them brown.

Shopping List:

• 28 oz canned tomatoes or fresh tomatoes (4-6 large)
• 1 tsp crushed garlic
• 8 oz carrots
• 2 stalks celery
• 3 green onions
• 8 slices whole wheat bread (or favorite firm bread)
• 8 – 10 oz favorite cheese (Velveeta, cheddar, Monterey Jack, etc)
• 1- 2 Jalapenos or 2 oz pickled Jalapenos
• 1 large tomato for slicing
• Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
• 2 sticks + butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup brown sugar

Also: crushed garlic, basil, oregano, pepper, whole wheat flour, unbleached flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, oil spray

EDIT:  From comments at Balloon-Juice:

As for BHF’s menu (which sounds delicious): you have to love a menu whose shopping list reminds you that you’re going to need basics like butter and brown sugar, but just assumes you’ll have flax in the pantry.

Yes, you will need flax.  My bad.  1/2 cup flax meal works best.