One of my favorite things about baking is being able to share treats with friends and family. I don’t know anyone whose day isn’t brightened by getting treats out of the blue! These chocolate chip mini muffins were a recent treat that I whipped up to take to a neighbor and they were such a hit with my family too, I just knew I had to share them with you.
I realize it’s still the dog days of summer, and it’s super hot outside. And that, if you live in the South like me, chances are the weather’s not turning toward fall for at least another month to month and a half.
However, the incredibly hot weather hasn’t stopped me from wanting to eat soup this season.
And yes, I know this is strange, but sometimes, a girl’s gotta have soup! And apparently, any home-y soup is my comfort food of choice these days.
I love Panera. I do not just kind of love it, I mean I really, really love it. I feel so strongly about this restaurant that if my husband and I are ever traveling through a city with a Panera I BEG him to let us stop. Sometimes he caves, and every single time I go to Panera I get the same thing. Tomato mozzarella panini, and a big bowl of creamy tomato basil soup. It is divine. So I decided to try to recreate this soup at home. The biggest thing about the soup is that it has a thick texture and consistency and has a subtle sweetness that makes you want more and more…and more and more.
This soup is fairly simple, and it doesn’t take hours to simmer and pick up flavor like most soups. You can have dinner on the table in 30 minutes start to finish with this meal. I served this with open faced grilled cheese “sandwiches”. These are also easy to make and I used a garlic and herb cheese spread that my grandmother taught me to make. I am actually sharing that recipe on my personal blog today so head here to find that recipe for the perfect accompaniment for this creamy tomato soup. Because who doesn’t love dunking a cheesy piece of French bread into a steamy bowl of tomato soup?
