Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Basil Soup

The Lord gave me a bounty of Tomatoes and Basil one year. I wanted to be resourceful and really use all that the Lord gave, so I decided to make soup. I looked through tons of recipes, and nothing was exactly what I wanted, so I made one up!! And this is my creation. It has a few extra steps, but the steps really pay off in flavor! This also makes an amazing sauce for Tortellini (Yummm-O!) Hope you like it.

Kari's Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato-Basil Soup

12-14 Medium to Large Tomatoes

1 Whole Head of Garlic

6 Red Peppers

1 Cup Diced Onion

2 Cups Packed fresh basil leaves 

3-4 Cups Chicken Stock 

1 Cup Half and Half

1/3 Cup Sour Cream

1 tsp Sugar

2Tbs Olive Oil

1Tbs Butter

Salt and pepper to taste

Step 1 The Roasting process! Roasting really brings out an amazing rich flavor!

12-14 Tomatoes (medium to large) cut into 1/4 wedges
1 whole head of Garlic unpeeled

Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet  and roast at 450 for about 40-50 minutes or until all the moisture is evaporated. Roast the garlic till soft, remove from oven and cool, then squeeze out garlic pulp

I would NOT recommend separating the garlic like I have here in this Picture. It is much better to roast the whole head of garlic.  

Roast 6 Red Peppers till black but not burned through.

Cool slightly and remove skin and seeds.

Step 2  All together in the pot!

Saute 1 cup Onion in 2Tbs Olive oil and 1 Tbs butter till soft. Add a pinch of salt and 2 Cups Fresh Basil. Continue to saute till very soft. Add 1tsp sugar and coarse black pepper to taste.

Add Tomato, pepper, garlic, and chicken stock to pot and simmer for approx. 1/2 hour over medium heat.

Step 3 Blend!

Blend in a food processor till smooth and strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds and tomato skins. 

Step 4 BLING!!

Return soup to the pot.  Add half and half and sour cream, warm through, adjust for salt and pepper and enjoy!

Now I must tell you at this point that you don't really have to add the half and half and sour cream. It is so good with out it, but it becomes extra special with this touch of cream and richness. I love this as a soup or as a sauce for pasta. I hope you all enjoy this soup as much as me! It's a great way to use up some of your tomato bounty. Enjoy!

Blessings!

Kari

Come Up in the Morning

"Give God the blossom of the day. Do not put Him off with faded leaves" ~ Streams in the Desert

I am reminded today to rise early and give my Lord the first of my day. How precious it is to give him the first attention in the morning. He meets me, and gives me wisdom and forgiveness. Instruction, and peace. Thank you Lord that you are a relationship builder. That you desire relationship with me more than anything. You sacrificed your own son to have this relationship with me. Praise you.

Today two new scriptures come to my attention: 

"The eyes of the LORD range through-out the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him" 2 Chronicles 16:9


"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you: he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18

He sees us, Every part of us.  He longs for us and rises to show us compassion and grace.

I must rely on what I know, not just what I feel.

My heart is full this morning. The type of full that makes words difficult to describe in full measure. I am just so thankful that God never gives up on me, or sees me as worthless, no matter what my sin. He is faithful to bring to completion the work be began in me.

What are you thankful for this morning?

TITHING OUR TIME

Have you ever thought about tithing your time? 

If we were to tithe our time to God in direct prayer and bible study that would be 2 hours and 40 minutes of time a day to give to God.
What could I accomplish in my spirit if I did this? 

What leaps of faith could I make? How would that change me? 

Truly, I do wonder if we should tithe our time instead of our money. I mean, I know we could all use more money, but I believe we are more protective these days of our time. I know I am. I think I love it more. I never seem to have enough of it. And I tend to covet those who seem to have more time. I just don't ever know how they get everything done and still have time to look beautiful?? 

I get annoyed at how long it takes to brew my coffee, get my computer to boot up, my kids to get in the car, and even how long it takes to read this blog post. Please tell me I'm not the only one?? Crazy isn't it? 

I mean we have invented all of these things to help us to get things done faster and we end up becoming a slave to that very thing.

But Christ came to set us free! So let's be free!! Maybe God isn't calling you (or even me) to tithe a full 2 hours and 40 minutes of prayer and study time a day, but there are days I don't even spend an hour, 1/2 an hour, or 15 minutes,before I'm done and on to the next thing that keeps me so busy. That is wrong. It's sin, and I am now confessing it. 

Jesus is my most important relationship. I love my husband and children, but I can't be the wife and mother they need without filling my soul with the Love of God each day. 

Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Oh how I need to be more like my Jesus. I need to withdraw to lonely places and pray... Often. Pray with me my friends that I can be more faithful with my time. 

Blessings on you today!

Kari