My Favorite Tomato Soup, with a Kick!

My favorite tomato soup, well really the only tomato soup I make, has everything you could want in a soup. It's creamy, kicky, and did I mention delicious?

Plus, it's super easy to make.

This gives it the flavor...



And this gives it the creamy...



Ingredients:

1 (15 ounce) can tomato puree (I like to use the one with italian herbs added)
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3/4 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. white sugar
1/8 cup milk
2 ounces cream cheese, softened

*These ingredients make about 2 decent-sized bowls of soup. Easily double the recipe for four.*



Start by simmering the tomato puree, red pepper flakes, black pepper, basil, and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes.



When it looks like this, drop the cream cheese by a few dollops (love that word) into the saucepan.



And then whisk. This is the best part of the whole recipe because the cream cheese starts melting and smelling sweet and delicious and it perfumes the whole air. The soup will also go from being bright red to a beautiful burnt orange color during this step.



Once the cream cheese is well blended, stir in the milk. Let the milk and cream cheese heat through without bringing the mixture to a boil. And then it's done!

Ladle into a bowl and serve!



PS- while making this soup, writing this post, and eating the soup, I've been watching It's Complicated (one of my favorite movies). I'm in love, love, love with the bakery/restaurant that Meryl Streep's character owns.



Gorgeous, right?
I want one just like that someday. :)