Tomato Veggie Bisque
OO
1 onion (chopped, sliced or whatever your heart desires)
2 stalks celery (again-chopped sliced whatever)
1 bag small carrots (chopped)
whatever fresh veggies you want to throw in there or have to use
1/2 c fresh basil (wash, squeeze dry, measure THEN chop) OR 1-2 TBSP dried
2 28 oz cans whole tomatoes
1 quart chicken broth (I just use whatever I've boiled down from our last whole chicken)
1/2 pint 1/2 and 1/2 or whipping cream (you can use fat free too), I've never made it w/o the dairy but I'm sure you could try
salt and pepper
Heat OO in a stock pot, adding carrots, celery, and onion until they start to soften. This is when you'd add your fresh veggies, I've add whatever veggies I need to use (zuchinni, tomato, carrot juice, small bit of greens). Then, add basil, 1/8 t salt & 1/2 tsp pepper, let the veggies continue to get soft. That should total about 15 minutes.
Add tomatoes and broth, bring to a boil...then turn med low to simmer about 30 minutes.
Stir in the cream over low heat, until it is to the creaminess you prefer. I let it cool, then I store it in freezer bags flat in the freezer till they are needed :0). The little guy said I needed to add some 'green stuff' to make it look pretty ;).
