Monday: Tomato Soup with Cheese and Bacon Toasties

Recipe courtesy of Every Day Food Magazine

Serves 4.

Ingredients

* 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 large red onion, chopped
* 1 garlic clove, chopped
* coarse salt and ground pepper
* 3 large tomatoes (about 2 pounds total), cored and chopped
* 1 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
* 1/4 cup heavy cream
* 6 slices bacon
* 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
* 8 slices white sandwich bread
* 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium. Add onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until onion softens, 4 to 6 minutes. Add tomatoes and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring, until tomatoes begin to break down, 4 to 6 minutes.
2. Add broth and 1 cup water. Simmer until tomatoes are very soft, about 10 minutes. In batches, puree soup in a blender (use caution when blending hot liquids). Return soup to pot and simmer 1 minute; stir in cream and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.
3. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium until lightly browned but not crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels; discard fat from skillet. Butter 8 slices bread. Place 4 slices, buttered side down, on a work surface. Top with bacon and cheese. Top with remaining bread, buttered side up. In batches, cook sandwiches in skillet over medium-low until cheese melts and bread is golden, about 5 minutes per side. Quarter sandwiches and serve with soup.