How I became the open minded eater I am today I’ll never know, as this was definitely not always the case.
These days I’ll pretty much gulp anything with gusto, but I remember many a night growing up when I’d be left at the dinner table, long after the others were done, to finish the food I didn’t want to eat ’cause NOBODY LEAVES THE TABLE ‘TIL THEIR PLATE IS CLEAN!
I’d sit for as long as it took to choke down the last few bites of cold pork chop, plug my nose and slam the remaining lukewarm milk in my glass, or if could get away with it, introduce my mortal enemy ham loaf to my good friend paper napkin, when no one was looking.
One dish I could not handle though, was tomato soup. No amount of coaxing or time spent at the table could force me to eat the stuff, and my Mom knew it. She mercifully skipped my bowl when ladling it up for the rest of the family alongside the crispy, gooey grilled cheese sandwiches she’d serve it with.
Thanks Mom. 
I can’t even pinpoint what it is about tomato soup that gives me such irrational levels of heebie jeebies, but I’ve felt the same way about it all my life and I’d planned on spending the rest of it hating the red, thick and sloppy soup – until about a month ago. That’s when I made the tomato sauce that was so good it pissed me off, which oddly enough, reminded me of tomato soup!
Instead of the slightly sweet, condensed and canned version of my childhood though, it was elegant, silky and sophisticated. And so I became obsessed. Obsessed with finding a similar recipe in soup form that was slow cooked, fresh tasting, and homemade, which would change my mind about tomato soup forever.
Here’s what I found – Roasted Tomato Soup with Broiled Cheddar.
This is IT. The BOSS. Tomato Soup for grownups!
It all starts with these: fresh tomatoes. Nothing canned or condensed here.
The juicy veggies are halved and simply seasoned with salt, pepper and extra virgin olive oil.
Along with 2 cloves of garlic wrapped in tin foil, they’re popped in the oven and roasted to juicy, tender, golden brown perfection.
See??
Pictures like this make me sooo happy.
After the tomatoes and garlic are roasted (I wish smell’net existed so you could get a whiff of this roasted garlic!)
they’re pureed to the consistency of your choice. I’m not a chunky veggie girl, so I let mine get pretty smooth.
Afterwards the tomato puree is simmered with chicken broth and a few simple spices until it’s thick and bubbly.
Then the real magic happens. The broiled cheddar action takes place!
Replicating the classic pairing of grilled cheese and tomato soup, toasted & buttered baguette pieces are floated on top of the soup, then freshly shredded, sharp cheddar cheese is mounded on top.
I mean!!!
A few minutes under the broiler…
and you’ll be over the moon.
This soup is delicate and packed with fresh, roasty flavor. It tastes NOTHING like the soup of my childhood, and for that I am grateful.
Plus, howya’ gonna hate on anything with a broiled cheese lid?! 
Click here for the recipe from Smitten Kitchen, and happy slurping!
PS my brother was on the Today Show today! Apparently Ann Curry picked him out of the crowd because she liked, and wanted to touch, his hair?! Check out the video! 
~~~~~
"My most hated food as a kid was ________."
Aw, your brother’s famous!
I’m with the other Jess, though – I can’t believe they said “Smarter than that guy from Iowa”, “Yeah, definitely smarter than that guy”… What’s your brother doing in NY?
And I hated meatloaf growing up and still do! It totally grosses me out.
He was in town for work!
Oh, yeah…meatloaf…UGH…any type of meat in loaf form is just YUCK! For sure.
Dude, I totally would have picked spinning too! Your brother was a good sport!
I HATED tuna and noodles….YUCK……especially because my mom LIED to me and told me it was CHICKEN!!!!!!! Now I am terrified of eating any shredded meat for fear it could be tuna!
I like to blame my parents for my unhealthy portion size dismorphia due to them ALWAYS making us clean our plates!!!!!!!! I remember sitting at the table staring at nasty food……..as a result, my dog got a lot of table scraps!
Lol – I was always slipping my unwanted food to the dog too. No wonder she was a little chubby!
OMG… he must have been so frazzled to miss that one! LOL
You guys are “accidental media whor….chasers”! I love that you are always slipping in there somehow!
Okay, so is that where you went too?
I highly suggest the roasted red pepper and tomato soup from TJ’s if you are looking for others to try. I lick my bowl clean every time.
Ditto! It is delish!
I love tomato soup, but this looks like it takes it to the next level – can’t wait to try. My most hated food as a child was definitely peas, and pretty much every other vegetable. I like a lot of vegetables now, but peas are still on the “will not eat” list. And, re: your brother’s Today show appearance, I happened to have been off work yesterday and had the TV on while getting my to-do list organized and saw that quiz part – I kept thinking, that guy from Iowa looks so familiar….mystery solved!
Hehe, that’s too funny!
I always hated peas, still hate the way they pop in the mouth and the texture, although wasabi peas are OK. I remember having to sit at the dinner table too, always the last one to finish, hated the warm milk that tasted of smoke, yuck. That was back when my parents smoked after dinner.
ewwww!!! that is disgusting!
Yum – I just made a similar version of this but with lots of basil from this recipe on spoon fork bacon: http://spoonforkbacon.com/2011/10/creamy-roasted-tomato-basil-soup/. I have some leftover in the freezer and I’m for sure trying the bread and cheese topper when we eat it next time! Thanks!
mmm I love tomato soup and grilled cheese. This sounds so delish! My most hated food was and still is Onions. I love the smell and not against the flavor, but the onion itself will not go down. I order the awesome blossom at Outback and slide the onion out and dip the crust in their yummy ranch. *sin*
I really, really hated chili! I don’t really know why. I think it was the spiciness or something. I did love tomato soup and grilled cheese though:)
How fun for your brother!!! I was totally like, “Spinning! No…yoga. No spinning! OR…yoga?!” And then when he picked spinning I was like, “YAY! I got it right!”
DOH!
And btw…I have never eaten a bowl of tomato soup in my life. YUCK! Funny how one of my favorite meals of all time (porcupine meatballs) are cooked in tomato soup. How could that be?!?! I remember after I went to college I asked my mom how to make them…and then I said, “What?! Tomato soup??? You cook them in tomato soup? That’s all it is? But Mom I HATE tomato soup!” And she said, “Well you like it in porcupines!”
Hmmm…I guess I do!
You are my new best friend!!!! Can’t freaking wait to make this!!!!!
Had this for lunch today. OMG it was amazing. I also grew up hating tomato soup but with this recipe I will be eating it a lot! Thanks so much for all your great ideas!
I abosolutely hated two things my mom made when I was a kid… spanish rice and goulash. Everything else I could usually put enough cheese and/or ketchup on to make it edible.
Liver. Blech.
I always hated lima beans. I still do hate them, actually. I’m not a big fan of any bean, but lima beans are the grossest. My mom LOVES them. Oh, and wax beans. Gross.
But I did, and still do, love tomato soup and will be making this very, VERY soon.
I love tomato soup. It is my number one comfort food. I put about a half a cup of shredded cheese in it and tons of crushed saltines. It makes me so happy.
I disliked Lima beans and brussel sprouts growing up. They tasted like dookie to me. As an adult, I can eat roasted brussel sprouts but Lima beans are still a no go. You can not hide a Lima bean in any dish from me, I’ll find it and and destroy it!
These comments are hilarious. Mashed potatoes, peas, tomato soup?! I loved all that stuff! I wasn’t a big fan of meat in general though, definitely guilty of passing some of it to our Boxer!
So funny about your brother…I’m sure he will cherish that CD forever! HA!
Tomato soup is one of my all time favs. Funny how one person’s love is another’s total YUCKfest.
When I was a kid I REFUSED to eat green peppers…now I LOVE them, and my mother reminds of that EVERYDAY.
I always hated tomato soup too. Thought the canned variety tasted like warm watery ketchup. yuck. Then I tried homemade tomato basil bisque, oh yum! Still hate the canned soup but I know love a good homemade tomato soup
Iowa Rocks! (the state that is, not the football team. my loyalties are with the Cyclones haha)
BTW I just found your blog and it makes me so homesick for Iowa. Michigan is still the midwest but it isn’t Iowa. Hope to move back some day
Pork and saurkraut! ughhh
Come on IGE Brother – spinning?! Really? I hope you give him a hard time for that one.
LIVER! Blech! And we had to the same rule as you did about sitting at the table until your plate is clean (don’t even get me started on that one!) No amount of ketchup could cover that disgusting flavor! The last year my mom made me eat liver (she made it once a year) was when I prepared ahead of time & had a full glass of water hidden in the bathroom cabinet just off the dining room area. I took one bite & ran for the bathroom where I made wretching noises as I poured the water slowly into the toilet. I don’t know whether she really believed I got sick or just decided that if I was going to go to that much trouble I deserved a liver respite forever.
I hated brussel sprouts, tuna, and the thought of ketchup on eggs. Now I love all three. Go figure.
I just made this recipe tonight and it is AWESOME! Thanks for sharing it!
Tooo funny..I used to hat tomato soup too..that is until I tried roasted tomato soup!!
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