Hot tomato soup and a melted cheese sandwich was one of my favorite suppers growing up. It seems like an American standard. Here's a modern, vegetarian version and a little bit of nostalgia for this comforting supper.
Don't be surprised to find orange juice is part of this easy, homemade tomato soup. Orange helps bring out the tomato flavor.
HELPFUL HINTS
* Any type of cheese can be used for the sandwich.
* If the cheese is not melted, remove skillet from the heat and cover with a lid for a few minutes.
SHOPPING LIST
* To buy: 2 cans reduced-sodium crushed tomatoes, 1 container unsalted vegetable broth, 1 small container orange juice, 1 small container heavy cream, 1 can olive oil spray, 1 loaf whole-grain bread and 1 package reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese.
* Staples: onion, sugar, salt and black peppercorns.
Tomato Soup
Olive oil spray
1 cup sliced onion
2 cups canned reduced-sodium crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 cups unsalted vegetable broth
1 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon heavy cream
Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat, and spray with olive oil spray. Add the onion, and saute 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. They should be golden but not brown. Add the crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, orange juice and sugar. Bring to a simmer, and cook 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Yield 2 servings.
Per serving: 195 calories (27 percent from fat), 5.8 grams fat, 8 milligrams cholesterol, 5.1 grams protein, 35.9 grams carbohydrates, 5.9 grams fiber, 182 milligrams sodium.
Melted Cheese Sandwich
Olive oil spray
4 slices whole-grain bread
4 slices reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
Spray a nonstick skillet with olive oil spray. Add 2 slices of bread. Add 2 slices of cheese to each slice of bread. Cover the cheese with the remaining 2 slices of bread. Cook until the bread is golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Spray the bread with olive oil spray, and flip it over to saute the other side until it is golden and the cheese melted.
Per serving: 254 calories (30 percent from fat), 8.3 grams fat, 12 milligrams cholesterol, 20.7 grams protein, 24.2 grams carbohydrates, 3.8 grams fiber, 691 milligrams sodium.
- Recipes by Linda Gassenheimer
Linda Gassenheimer is the author, most recently, of "Simply Smoothies: Fresh & Fast Diabetes-Friendly Snacks & Complete Meals" and "Fast and Flavorful: Great Diabetes Meals From Market to Table" and "The Flavors of the Florida Keys." Her website is dinnerinminutes.com. Follow her on Twitter lgassenheimer. Email: linda@dinnerinminutes.com.