Summer is not quite gone yet. But the weather is leaning towards Fall.
At least some days it is! Here in the desert, we really look forward to the end of summer. Enough heat is enough, and to add to the heat, we have had to deal with humidity! Oh well, the worst has passed and we have Fall and Spring to look forward to! After all isn’t that why we put up with summer!

So as the seasons change, so do our menus. Hot soups and the weather gives us the availability to do more grilling and cooking time. We are not there yet!

But who says we can’t have our soups? More and more, we need to add to our menus to supplement, with the intent of stretching the meals. By finding ways to eat right by making fulfilling and nourishing menus, we can beat the rising costs of the grocery bill!

TOMATO SOUP

2-14 ounce cans diced tomatoes 4 cups milk
2 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon salt 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon sugar (or sweetener) 1⁄2 cup milk ( for the thickener)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1. Place tomatoes in the blender or food processor and puree, then heat in a saucepan. In another saucepan, heat the 4cups of milk.

2. In a small bowl, mix the flour, salt, pepper, sugar, and the 1⁄2 cup of milk.

Make a slurry until all ingredients are well combined and no lumps are in the mixture.

Stir the mixture into the into the simmering milk until it boils and thickens.

3. Stir baking soda into the hot tomatoes, then stir into the hot milk mixture and simmer for a couple of minutes.

Makes 6 cups.

This recipe may be enhanced and supplemented by adding:

1. Frozen peas and carrots, or any vegetable of your choice!

2. Chopped hot dogs. Bacon bits?

3. 2 cups cooked Pasta, 1 cup shredded cheese, 1 tablespoon butter and what do you have? Macaroni and Cheese Tomato Soup!

4. Serve the soup with any sandwich of your choice, a grilled cheese sandwich would be ideal.

This soup has always been one of my husband’s favorite soup, next to onion soup!

So, give it a try and let’s not get those “ Grocery bills” blues. Stretch that buck, but make it a healthy stretch!