My Menu Plan Monday posts have been few and far between because, for a while there, I felt like I was making the same things over and over again. And who wants to read the same menu each week? Well this week, I'm trying a few new recipes. Hopefully, I'll find a few keepers to throw into the mix.
I'm keeping my promise and sharing another soup recipe. This week's recipe is not nearly as heavy and filling as last week's. This Cream of Tomato Soup is a snap to make and the ingredients are simple and straightforward. It's almost as easy as opening a can. If you want to spare a few calories, you don't have to add the half and half.
Tuesday night's meal will be breakfast, as that was what won in our family's Election Day Dinner poll.
I did find a great new side dish item on the grocery shelf the other day -- Kashi 7 Whole Grain Pilaf. It's absolutely delicious and cooks in the microwave in just 90 seconds. 8g of protein, 7g of fiber, and reasonably priced to boot!
Monday: Italian Meatloaf, Egg Noodles, Peas
Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner
Wednesday: Asian Pork Tenderloin, Kashi 7 Whole Grain Pilaf, Edamame
Thursday: Parmesean Chicken, Cream of Tomato Soup (recipe follows), Greek Salad, Fruit
Friday: Pizza Night! (Thai Chicken Pizza for adults; cheese pizza for kids)
Saturday: Ranchero Mexi-Chicken Crostada, Salad, Fruit
Cream of Tomato Soup
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots (2 medium) or onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
3 cups chopped or crushed canned tomatoes
1/2 cup half and half (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Parmesean cheese
1. Heat 1 Tbsp butter and the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic; saute until soft, about 3 minutes. Add broth and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, 25 minutes, or until tomato mixture begins to thicken.
2. Remove from heat. Process in 2 batches in a blender until smooth. Return to pot and heat over medium heat until soup is warmed through. Stir in half-and-half (if using) and 1 Tbsp butter. Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with parmesean cheese. Makes about 7 cups (serves 4-6 people)
Be sure to head on over to Menu Plan Monday for more ideas!
12 comments:
Hi Michelle, can you explain what 'half and half' is? Is it cream and milk? Thanks
Hey, there! Half and half is exactly what you thought -- half milk and half cream. We can buy it mixed as "half and half" in the States, although I do remember it being nearly impossible to find half and half when I lived in London. I would just try thinning out the cream with a little milk and adding it slowly to the soup until you get the desired creaminess. Or, you could just add straight cream -- you probably wouldn't need as much as if you used half and half. Hope that helps!
Thanks Michelle, I watch Barefoot Contessa on tv here so I thought that's what it was. I'm going to make the soup, I LOVE making soup and my girls will actually eat it!
You're very organised - I always aim to keep to a weekly menu but rarely manage to do it.
I'm doing tomato soup this week also. It's the only thing I'll be eating after dental surgery Wednesday...:(
yummy menu again! love that tomato soup... will try that for sure. hey... what's in the kashi pilaf? is it something store bought or you have a receipe for that?
(most importantly, did the kiddos like it?)
It's got the 7 whole grains kashi mix, which includes whole oats, long grain brown rice, rye, hard red winter wheat, triticale, buckwheat, barley and sesame seeds. The kind I bought was the "microwave in the bag" kind. They also sell the same thing in a box, but I think that takes much longer to make, as you have to do it on the stove.
Suprisingly, my kids did like it. But, they are used to eating brown rice regularly, so they are used to the "heartier" texture.
Hey love! Your menus are always amazing!
Sorry I haven't gotten back to you, things have been nutso around here. I thought I could come to the blog get-together, but they changed the Elijah House schedule so I DO have it all day Saturday. Apparently people forget that you can't have EH the night before Thanksgiving. Bah!
I will try the soup for our Bonfire Night Party tomorrow. Thanks Michelle.
I might have to try that.
There's a few Michelle's going to the party on Saturday, you and I being 2 of them! I look forward to meeting you and am glad to know I'm not the only one who has a meal that's for the adults and another for the kids.
what a yummy menu? we will be at the blog party tomorrow as well!
Michelle...did you make that thai pizza? What did you think? I love thai pizza from California pizza kitchen, and this recipe looks intriguing.
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