Super Bowl.

No...not the football game.
(Although it was a good one.)

I'm talking about a super bowl of soup.

Yesterday we went to the most fun annual Superbowl party on the planet.
This year the hosts asked anyone who was interested in a little friendly competition to bring a crock pot full of soup.

And to prepare to be judged.

I knew what I was bringing the instant I saw the evite.

The *best* Creamy Tomato Basil Soup out there.
{At least I think so.}

I sure was wishing for some of my inlaws' tomatoes yesterday.
The ones at the store were pretty blech.
{But Gary's parents' tomato crop is just about ready - woo hoo!}


This soup is perfect for winter.
Perfect for all of you poor snowed-in souls.
Perfect for all of us water-logged west coasters.


And...as it turns out...perfect for a Super Bowl soup contest.
The Saints weren't the only ones awarded a trophy yesterday!

Yep...first place.
My prize was the coolest ladle on the planet.


Oh...and it's perfect for lunch the next day.

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Creamy Tomato Basil Bisque
4 tomatoes - peeled, seeded & diced
4 cups tomato juice
14 leaves fresh basil
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 pound butter
salt & ground black pepper to taste

1. Combine tomatoes and juice in stock pot and simmer 30 minutes.
2. Puree along with basil leaves in food processor. (note: this is probably *much* easier if done with an immersion blender right in the stock pot, but I don't have one.)
3. Return to stock pot and add heavy cream and butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.