Soap and Soup

As much as I have wanted to stay on top of my blogging, I have not been able to do so.  Aside from the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I have also been busy with schooling and trying to work on getting my little business off of the ground.  Planning and preparations take up a lot of time.

I have been soaping like a crazy woman, trying out different fats and fragrances all leading up to the launch of my line of soaps, lotions and salves.  I am hoping to be able to set up at the local farmer's market.  I have already set up my web page and will be gong live with it in a couple of months, but I want to be more active with my community.

I wanted to leave you with a new recipe.  I made this today after dental work so I would have soft food to eat.  I served it with broiled garlic bread.

Creamy Tomato Soup

1 stick butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 red, yellow or orange bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
6 tablespoons flour
3 cups milk
3 cups vegetable or chicken broth (I used chicken)
4 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon basil
2 cans stewed tomatoes, undrained and pureed in a blender

Melt butter and add all chopped veggies.  Cook until veggies are soft.  Add flour to veggies and mix.  Cook for about a minute.  Add broth and cook, bringing to a low boil, to thicken a bit.  Add sugar, spices, basil and milk.  Cook, again, to thicken, bringing back to simmer.  Add tomato puree and heat through.

Serve each bowl with Monteray Jack and/or Parmesan cheese.  Add crusty bread and raw broccoli as sides.