Summer Tomato Soup (Crock Pot)

I have planted a huge crop of tomatoes this year in my attempt to can and dry them for the year's needs. (Chopped, pasta sauce, salsa, paste, dried tomato and tomato powder, etc) I also thought it would nice to try a "summer soup" in the crock pot. It can be cooking over night and chillin' in the day, tossed in cooler for a picnic or pulled out of the fridge for a quick summer meal. This is what I came up with and it is delicious. It can be served hot or cold, with or without milk or thickened for a heartier winter style soup.


1-3 cloves of garlic crushed (to taste, we like 3)
2T of Olive oil
1 onion, chopped
up to 1C carrots diced, shredded or grated
2T honey (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp dried Italian herbs of choice - to taste (or 2T fresh)
2 pounds+ chopped tomatoes with juice
2 cans of tomato paste
Enough broth to fill the pot (vegetable, beef or chicken all work)

1. Saute onions, carrots, oil and garlic in skillet on med or Crock pot on High (crock takes a while skillet is fast, but makes an extra dish!)
2. Add remaining ingredients. Cook on High 4-5 hours or Low 8-10.

When ready to serve use a hand blender to puree in pot or carefully poor in blender in small batches, leaving air flow, because it can "explode" in blender because of being hot. You can also let cool some if you are planning to serve cold.

This is delicious, flavorful and light soup for summer. But if you want to make thicker/heartier for the winter months, just add 1/4 C flour and a little more oil (or butter) to the first step, after the onions have softened. Then slowly add some broth to the skillet and mix. Then add it to the crock with the remaining ingredients.

If you would like a "Cream of Tomato Soup", just add 2C of milk, half and half or cream (depending on how rich you want it) to your soup before serving.

For the warm versions, shredded cheese is also a delicious addition at the table!

Celery, or other veggies are also delicious additions to the flavor in place of or addition to carrots. Zucchini may thicken it a little. That is what's great about soup, its so hard to mess up! :-) Enjoy!