Title: Tomato and Basil Soup
Categories: Soup Vegetarian
Yield: 6 Servings

2 1/3	kg	Tomatoes
24	lg	Basil Leaves
175	g	Salted Butter
		Salt
		Ground Black Pepper
75	g	Fromage Blanc

This soup combines the sweetness of fresh basil with the tangy flavour of ripe tomatoes. Fromage Blanc adds creaminess.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Tip: If you want to skin smaller quantities of tomatoes you will find it quick and easy if you cut a cross on the tops of the tomatoes, push a fork into the other end and sear the tomato skin over a medium gas flame, turning the tomato ove as the skin loosens.

Serving Suggustion:

Warm some French Bread in the oven and serve chunks of it with the soup.

1. Make a small slit in the skin of each tomato and blanch in boiling water for 5-7 seconds. They are ready when the skin starts to peel away from the knife slits. Lift the tomatoes out and peel, then halve, scooping the seeds and juice into a sieve set over a bowl. Sieve the juice and reserve, then cut the tomato flesh into small strips.

2. Roughly chop all but 6 of the basil leaves. Put the tomato strips, reserved juice and chopped basil into a frying pan. Add 1/3 of the butter and place over a medium heat, shaking the pan and stirring.

3. When the tomato strips start to break up, turn up the heat and briskly stir in the rest of the butter. When all the butter has been added, the tomatoes should only be half cooked. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Fill individual soup bowls with the tomato soup, then spoon fromage blanc into the middle of each bowl. Garnish each soup bowl with a fresh basil leaf and serve at once. Microwave Method

Put tomato strips, juice, and basil with 1/3 of the butter in a large microwave proof bowl, cover and cook on high (100%) for 10 minutes. Beat in the rest of the butter and cook for a further 5-10 minutes until the tomatoes have softened, season and serve with bread rolls warmed in the microwave. Six rolls warmed on defrost (30%) will take 2-3 minutes. Warming on a low setting will prevent the bread from drying out.

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