Tomato Soup and Roasted Garlic and Cheese Bread

A snowy Saturday morning with the Food Network on and instant inspiration for dinner! The Pioneer Women, Ree Drummond  has really become a family favorite these days.  She fixes simple and delicious meals. Ree is coming very close to become a family favorite along side Ina.

A simple supper of super souped up tomato soup and cheese bread was such a great meal on a cold Saturday night.

Tomato Soup 2.0

Three 10.75-ounce cans condensed tomato soup
1/4 cup sherry
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons pesto
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish
1/2 cup diced fresh tomatoes
Drizzle of olive oil
A few fresh basil leaves, chopped, for garnish

Add the soup to a pot with 3 cups water and heat over medium heat according to the can instructions.

When hot, add the sherry, cream, pesto and Parmesan. Stir and heat through.

Serve up the soup in bowls and sprinkle on the tomatoes, a drizzle of olive oil, more grated Parmesan and some basil.

   

Roasted Garlic and Cheese Bread

8 cloves garlic, peeled

2 tablespoons olive oil 

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup grated mozzarella

1/2 cup grated fontina

1/2 cup grated Parmesan 

1/2 cup grated Romano 

2 teaspoons chopped chives 

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 

1 round artisan or sourdough loaf 

1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Put the garlic cloves on a square of heavy foil, drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle on some salt and pepper. Wrap it up and bake until the garlic is golden, nutty and mushy, about 1 hour. Let cool. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Mix the garlic together with the 4 cheeses, chives, crushed red pepper flakes and some black pepper in a bowl.

Cut the bread in strips in one direction, being careful not to cut all the way through the loaf. Rotate the bread 90 degrees and cut in the other direction. Stuff the cheese mixture in between the rows. Drizzle the melted butter all over the top.

Wrap in foil and bake for 25 minutes. Open up the foil and bake until the cheese is hot and bubbly, another 10 minutes. Serve immediately.