THE BEGINNING

 Its Day 1 of the Blog and I am about to make one of my favourite soups. This is such a simple and quick soup yet incredibly satisfying. It is a great soup to carry on the go too. A flask of this incredibly Quick and Easy Tomato Soup and a sandwich with your favourite fillings will keep you on track. No temptation no gain ! The soup does call for (and yes it does make a huge difference to the taste) a 10gm pat of butter which is 3.5 syns BUT it does make 3 cupfuls of soup ...more if you want a thinner soup. A cupful of soup with a well filled sandwich makes for a very filling lunch. You could always add a side salad too if you wish. 

QUICK AND EASY TOMATO SOUP 

10 gm pat of butter (3.5syns)

400 ml or a 400gm carton of Tomato Passata (a can of chopped tomatoes works too but I did say simplicity is tantamount and a can of tomato means I have to still blitz the tomatoes using a hand blender, this is avoided by using ready blitzed tomato passata :) )

1 Tblspn Tomato Puree 

1 Large Pod of Garlic crushed or very finely chopped (if you like more garlic use as much as you like)

Water (add enough to achieve the consistency you like for your soup)

Crushed Chilli Flake (approximately 1/2 teaspoon for me but adjust this to taste) and this is optional 

Salt and Pepper to taste

A good pinch of artificial sweetner (to balance the tart acid of the tomatoes)

METHOD

In a pan melt the butter with a little bit of spray oil to prevent it for burning. 

Add the garlic and saute very briefly so as not to colour or burn it. 

Add the Tomato Passata (or the tomatoes in whatever form you are using them) and the tomato puree

Season with salt and pepper. Stir for a few minutes until the tomato starts to turn slightly darker in colour. 

Add chilli flakes (if using). Stir through. 

Add water and cook until simmering 

Add the sweetner and taste to adjust seasoning.

This soup does not need boiling. A gently simmer to heat everything through is all you need. 

You can try adding herbs like thyme or basil or oregano or all three if you like. You can leave out the chilli flakes or make this a really spicy soup , you can add some peas to the soup if you like or make a chopped onion base for the soup in which case you would use and sautee finely chopped onions with the butter until soft but not coloured and then add the garlic and tomatoes etc.