Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup With Grilled Fontina Mushroom Sandwiches Food

ROASTED TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400°F.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the quartered tomatoes on the baking sheet, then sprinkle the garlic cloves throughout the tomatoes.
• Drizzle the tomatoes and garlic with the olive oil. Using your clean hands, rub the oil into the tomatoes and garlic cloves, leaving them evenly distributed throughout the baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and roast for 1 hour, or until the tomatoes are very soft and starting to caramelize around the edges.
• When the tomatoes have 30 minutes remaining, start the onions. Heat a dutch oven over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and heat until it shimmers. Add the onions and sautee until soft, stirring occasionally, 6-7 minutes. Sprinkle the onions with the dried basil and oregano and sautee until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
• Add the balsamic vinegar to deglaze the pot; cook until the vinegar stops bubbling and reduces by half. Add the broth and fresh thyme to the pot, increase the heat to high and bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer 10-15 minutes to infuse the broth with flavor. Turn off the burner.
• Remove the roasted garlic cloves from the baking sheet - use tongs, it will be hot! Set aside until cool enough to handle, about 5 minutes.
• Fish out the thyme bundle, and shake to release any leaves. Add the roasted tomatoes to the broth and onion mixture. Squeeze the roasted garlic from its paper shell and add to the soup mixture.
• Add the heavy cream if using and 1/4 cup fresh basil. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup in the pot until smooth. Add additional broth if needed to reach the desired consistency.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with additional fresh basil. Serve immediately. Store leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

FONTINA AND MUSHROOM CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the cremini, shiitake and oyster mushrooms and saute for 5 minutes. Add the shallots and sweat until translucent. Add the wine and thyme. Cook until the wine has reduced and the pan is dry, about 5 minutes. Remove the thyme.
• Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Grill the slices of baguette until golden brown. Rub the bread slices with the garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt. Place the bread on a baking sheet. Place 1 to 2 slices of cheese on each piece of bread.
• Broil until the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Top each toast with 1 heaping tablespoon of the mushroom mixture. Sprinkle with chives.

QUICK CREAMY TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Combine broth and tomatoes in a medium saucepan over moderate heat. When soup bubbles, stir in heavy cream and reduce heat to low. Season with a little salt and pepper and simmer gently 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. With an immersion blender, puree soup. Serve bowls of soup with basil chiffonade and floating Soup Toppers.
• Toast bread slices in your toaster until golden. Rub the toasted bread rounds with crushed garlic, if using. Arrange bread on cookie or baking sheet. Drizzle each slice with extra-virgin oil and top with a grind of black pepper and a layer of shredded cheese. Place under hot broiler to melt cheese until toppers are golden brown in color.

SIMPLE ROASTED TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line two 10x15-inch baking pans with parchment paper.
• Arrange tomatoes, onion, and bell pepper in a single layer on the prepared baking pans. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Roast in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Add garlic; continue roasting until mixture is tender, about 15 minutes more.
• Bring broth to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, covered.
• Meanwhile, put 1/2 of the tomato mixture in a blender. Cover and pulse 3 times, then blend until smooth, adding hot broth as needed. Pour into the pot with broth. Repeat with remaining tomato mixture, then stir into the pot until combined.
• Simmer soup to heat through, about 5 minutes. Stir in basil and parsley.

GRILLED FONTINA, MUSHROOM, AND ARUGULA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add rosemary and stir 30 seconds. Add mushrooms. Cover skillet and cook until mushrooms are tender, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Season mushrooms to taste with salt and pepper; transfer to plate. Wipe out skillet.
• Arrange 4 bread slices on work surface; spread with mustard, if desired. Top bread slices with cheese, then mushrooms and arugula, dividing equally. Top each with bread slice; press to compact. Brush tops lightly with oil.
• Heat reserved skillet over medium heat. Place sandwiches, oiled side down, in skillet. Brush tops lightly with oil. Cover and cook until golden on bottom, occasionally pressing with spatula, about 5 minutes. Turn sandwiches over. Cover and cook until golden on bottom and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer sandwiches to plates; cut in half and serve.

CREAMY, MELTY MUSHROOM SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook until the mushrooms have given up all their liquid and are beginning to brown. Add the onions, shallots and fennel. Cook, stirring, until all the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes more.
• Add the wine and cook, scraping the bottom of the pan to dislodge any browned bits. Let simmer until the liquid is reduced by half.
• Stir in the cream. Slowly stir in the cheese, stirring until melted. Cook until bubbling and smooth, about 5 minutes. If too thick, add a little more cream or some milk.
• While the sauce is cooking, toast the bread. Place 2 slices of toast on each of 2 plates and spoon the mushroom mixture over top. Garnish with the fresh herbs.