Creamy Tomato Soup

I love a good tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich supper. Here's a healthy, home made version of this comfort soup.

Creamy Tomato Soup

8 roma tomatoes
1 clove garlic
olive oil
salt
pepper
1 pat butter
1 stalk celery
1 carrot
1 small onion
1 tbsp flour (or rice flour)
2 cups vegetable broth
1 6-oz can tomato paste*
1 bay leaf
1 tsp garlic salt
1.5 cups whole milk (or cream)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut tomatoes in half and place skin-side down on baking dish. Slice garlic clove and place on tomatoes. Drizzle all with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes. Meanwhile heat butter over medium low heat in large saucepan. Peel and chop carrots, chop celery and onion. Sauté in butter until tender. Stir in flour. Smash roasted tomatoes and add to saucepan. Add broth, tomato paste, garlic salt and bay leaf. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes. Add milk and stir. Working in batches, puree soup in blender (or use an immersion blender) until smooth. Return to pan and heat through.

*If you are gluten free, be cautious when purchasing tomato paste. Some tomato pastes including those marked "Italian Style" may contain wheat.

Bedtime Juice

Feeling bad about your fruit and veggie intake for the day? Have a glass of this before bed :) (And if you're like my kids, chase it with a nice banana).

Bedtime Juice

1 stalk celery
1 large carrot
2 roma tomatoes
3 sweet apples (such as Jazz or Jonagold)

Wash all and run through juicer. Makes 2 large glasses full of juice.

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

My new favorite cake!

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

Cake:
3/4 cup butter, softened
3 eggs
2 cups flour (or 1.5 cups rice flour, .5 cup potato starch, 1 tsp xanthan gum)
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1.5 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1.5 cups milk

Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda ingredients in bowl. S et aside. In mixer, beat butter until smooth. Add sugar until well mixed. Add eggs, beating after each addition. Alternately beat in dry mixture and milk until smooth. Prepare one 13 x 9 x 2 pan or 2 9-inch round pans. Pour batter into prepared pan(s) and spread evenly. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes for rectangular pan or 35 minutes for round pans.

Frosting:
(halve for sheet cake)
1 12-oz package of semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
1 8-oz carton sour cream
4 cups powdered sugar

In saucepan over low heat melt butter and chocolate. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Stir in sour cream until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well, until desired consistency is reached.

Gluten Free Cheddar Biscuits

Great served warm with soup or salad. Very light and fluffy. Would also work with a regular biscuit recipe.

Gluten Free Cheddar Biscuits

1/3 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup potato starch
3/4 cup corn starch
2 tsp xanthan gum
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 cup milk
1-2 tsp garlic powder (depending on taste)
1 cup cheddar, shredded

Combine all ingredients and mix well to remove lumps. Spoon onto well greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned. Makes about 1 dozen biscuits.

Garlic Chicken Pizza

A major tweak of a great new recipe we found. Soooo yummy.

Garlic Chicken Pizza

1 16" pizza crust (store bought or home made)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and chopped or shredded
4 tbsp ranch dressing
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp garlic powder
8 green onions, minced
5 roma tomatoes, diced
2-3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

Prepare pizza crust. If making dough from scratch, spread on cornmeal dusted pizza pan, drizzel with olive oil and bake at 400 for 8-10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine chicken, ranch dressing and garlic. Let stand. When crust is finished in the oven, sprinkle with the garlic powder, green onions and tomatoes. Top with chicken mixture and spread evenly. Spread thickly with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.