Mom's Tomato Soup

Named for the fact that this is the way Mom made it. Will cause you to “swear off” canned tomato soup forever.

• 20-24 (depending on size) Very ripe, home grown, tomatoes, peeled and cubed. (I love Romas best, but more tomatoes are required.)
• 1 Gallon 2% milk
• 6-10 Peeled, diced potatoes (She used more Red Potatoes, less Yukon Gold, due to size.)
• 1 Tbsp corn starch (This is optional. Some people prefer thicker soup than others.)

• Peel and cube tomatoes. (You may use a food processor, but try not to puree your tomatoes. Your soup will seem more like canned, and won't make as good a base for other soups.)
• Set tomatoes aside in a stock pot or crock pot, which works beautifully.
• Peel and cube potatoes, and add them to the pot.
• Cover your potatoes and tomatoes with milk, and begin a process of slow cooking on low heat, stirring frequently so the milk doesn’t stick. If using a crock pot, choose the “low” setting. If using a stock pot, use the lowest setting your oven has above “warm” and cover with a lid.
• When the soup gets hot, gently whisk in the corn starch very well. (It blends more easily in hot liquid than cold liquid.)
• If the milk starts to look low, you may add more, or water if you prefer thinner soup.
• When the tomatoes are reduced and the potatoes are cooked, the soup is ready.
• For best results, cook this when tomatoes are fresh from the garden, and if you're not in the mood for soup in such hot weather, (Most of us aren’t.) immediately freeze it to save for winter, when it can be eaten as is or used as a base for vegetable or other soups.
• You will notice that no seasoning was mentioned. If you’re freezing the soup, it his highly recommended that you season when you’re warming it to serve. As tomatoes are naturally salty, you will find this is delicious when your only seasonings are pepper or garlic, to taste.

Chef Phil

Chef's thought: Tomatoes are rich in Vitamin C and Anti-oxidants. Fresh tomato soup is a healthy comfort food which can become an unnoticed part of winter cold prevention.