Winter is starting to lick the heels of Autumn, any day now we will loose the warm days and be struck down with blowing cold winds and snow capped mountains in the distance. We have had a few days where I’ve managed to drag the wooly coat out and walk down the hill but you know it’s not really winter when you are finally at the bottom of the hill and you’ve stripped off down to your knickers because you are boiling hot. I don’t know how the Italians do it? I see them wrapped in scarves, thrice round their necks; big thick coats and long boots all walking along like they have just stepped out of the salon and here is me in a long sleeve top under my coat (minus scarf, boots & gloves) and I’m boiling from the inside out!
Despite my coat being just a bit too hot for me right now I am cooking winter warmers. My family loves soup and I have made quite a bit of the Tuscan variety, however, I am getting cries from the boys regarding their favourites- pumpkin soup and tomato soup. I’d love to make pumpkin soup, however, I am lacking in the blender department and I’m not one for chunky pumpkin soup so tomato it was.
Shelly went on a trip with a friend of hers to Umbria last week and I was lucky enough to score some delicious sweet cipolle which are a real treat.
I knew they would be perfect for my tomato soup, slowly sauteed with garlic, olive oil and sea salt for ultimate flavour. I have a new found love in the kitchen at the moment and it is Sicilian grey sea salt. The flavour is very soft, light and compliments the cooking process beautifully. I love to saute my onions with more olive oil than I usually would use and a good size teaspoon of this salt. It sets the flavour base for many a yummy meal and allows me to adjust the seasoning throughout instead of right at the end, which I am noticing is a very Tuscan way to cook.
Tomato soup would have to be the simplest of all the soups, every time I make it I wonder if I have done it correctly because it is pretty much over before I start. Once I have the onions and garlic soft and breaking apart slightly I then add a bottle of passata (smooth tomato sauce with no additives) and two tins of whole peeled tomatoes, roughly diced. Once they are added and brought to a boil, I reduce the temperature to a simmer, add a teaspoon of pepper, tablespoon wine vinegar (red or white), 1/2 cup water and then simmer for about 30 minutes.
Just before I’m about to serve I’ll add a dash of cream, check the seasoning and then if I’m after a bit more of a treat, I’ll serve it with pesto parmesan bread. A lunch fit for a king…….or at the least two very hungry school boys!
I know it isn’t typical Italian cuisine but I am wondering if I could serve this to the locals and get away with it?
Italy Take Two 
Maybe the Italians dress for style rather than comfort?!!
I’ll try this recipe today instead of my usual as I can buy Italian passata at my local. It may not be cool or cold here but we’re having plenty of storms & rain, so close enough 😊 thanks for the recipe!
How did you go with the soup?
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Unfortunately the last 24 hours have been really tough with the kids & a travelling husband not at home so I’ve had to forgo cooking. But I will try tomorrow I hope.
Looks wonderful Mil, would love some right now. It would go well with the cool NZ days we are having.
Yes it would, I hope your having fun. I miss talking to you. Give Hamish a big cuddle from me xxx
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What beautiful pictures…they made me want autumn weather and yummy soup!
Thank you
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I love tomato soup. Unfortunately cannot get passata in turkey. How would you make that?
Easiest way would be to purée two tins of whole tomatoes with 1/2 cup of water until it is smooth 🙂
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I’ll let you know how I go!
Try making “pappa”. That’s very Tuscan!!! You will love it.
You’re right I must, I haven’t even tried it yet!
Yum…….love the look of the bread also.
It tasted pretty good too!
I love finding new sea salts – each one has a unique flavor. Not something you think about with salt, but it must have something to do with the local concentrations of minerals. Soup looks fabulous!
Very true, if there are still minerals in the salt then you can taste a difference. I always look for a mineral chart on my salt pkts before I buy
There’s that yummy bread again! We’re not much into tomato soup here, which is a pity because it does look very simple to cook. Salt is always welcome, though – we have to try hard not to overdo it!
We are a salt loving family too!
Looks lovely. And the bread must be yummy too 🙂 Tomato soup is popular at our house, it is about the only soup Blackberry #1 is willing to eat. But only if it has letter shaped pasta in it. Our Tomato soup is probably a sweeter kind.
Ooh, please share your pumpkin soup recipe! I made spiced apple and butternut squash soup today for a staff luncheon at Lizzy’s school, but unfortunately the leftovers I brought home ended up all over the floor of my car (that will smell good for a few days… then ick!). I love anything pumpkin or squash flavored, but I wish I could get the rest of my family to eat it. It’s too much work for just me. My kids love pumpkin bread, so maybe they’d eat pumpkin soup?!
Hi Amy, I have about three or four pumpkin recipes on my old food blog, if you do a search on that you’ll find them. It’s located at http://www.familyoffoodies1.blogspot.com Bummer about the car- this is why I hate transporting any liquids! 😦
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Just read this and next two blogs (love coat), a bit behind. Ian still has canned tomato soup which I never liked. Don’t often make tomato soup but remember making a herby one first time we met Mal and Dave!
Have you discovered wonderful recipe book, all in English, by Judy Witts Francini designed for the american market but also perfect for us Brits and Ozzis. The measurements are in ‘cups’. Its called Divina Cucina’s Recipes/Secrets from my Tuscan Kitchen. Go to http://www.divinacucina.com She has Papa al Pomadore in it, the original bread and tomato soup. (She is also my next door neighbour!)