Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

 Ingredients

**For the Tomato Soup:**
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 1 large onion, chopped
– 2 garlic cloves, minced
– 2 cans (28 ounces each) whole peeled tomatoes
– 2 cups vegetable broth
– 1 tablespoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional for creamier soup)
– Fresh basil leaves for garnish

**For the Grilled Cheese Sandwiches:**
– 8 slices of crusty bread
– Butter, softened
– 8 slices of cheddar cheese (or your preferred cheese)
– Optional: garlic powder or dried herbs for extra flavor

 Instructions

**Tomato Soup:**

1. **Sauté the Aromatics:**
– In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
– Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
– Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.

2. **Add the Tomatoes and Broth:**
– Add the whole peeled tomatoes (with their juice) to the pot.
– Pour in the vegetable broth.
– Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes.

3. **Blend the Soup:**
– Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth. Alternatively, you can transfer the soup to a blender in batches and blend until smooth.
– Return the blended soup to the pot.

4. **Season and Add Cream:**
– Season the soup with salt, pepper, and sugar (if using) to taste.
– Stir in the heavy cream if you prefer a creamier soup.
– Keep the soup warm on low heat while you prepare the sandwiches.

**Grilled Cheese Sandwiches:**

1. **Assemble the Sandwiches:**
– Butter one side of each slice of bread.
– Place 4 slices of bread, buttered side down, on a cutting board or plate.
– Top each with 2 slices of cheese.
– Place the remaining slices of bread on top, buttered side up.

2. **Grill the Sandwiches:**
– Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat.
– Place the sandwiches in the skillet and cook until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 3-4 minutes per side.
– If you like, you can sprinkle a little garlic powder or dried herbs on the buttered side before grilling for extra flavor.

3. **Serve:**
– Serve the grilled cheese sandwiches hot, alongside the tomato soup.
– Garnish the soup with fresh basil leaves.

Enjoy your comforting and classic meal of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup!