Last night was about simple American comfort food. Tomato soup with no fuss grilled cheese sandwiches. And finally my husband likes a homemade tomato soup! He normally only likes ones like Campbells, none of these nice chunky tomato soups. So I tried to make a homemade thin sweet version.

Tomato Soup
1 tablespoon oil
1 onion sliced
1 clove of garlic chopped into chunks (not minced) or one cube of trader joe’s frozen garlic (for me the frozen is way better than the jar which has a bitter taste)
1 can of tomato sauce or ~two cups tomato sauce
1/2 cup milk or half & half (optional)
1 squeeze ketchup
1 tablespoon sugar (or to taste)
Salt
Water (depending on how thin you like your soup)
Fresh basil

1. Heat oil and saute onions until a little bit caramelized. I cook them over high heat at first stirring constantly for a couple of minutes to get them start faster, otherwise it takes forever!
2. If using fresh garlic, add it in part way through cooking the onions. I like bigger chunks because they seem to caramelize nicer without burning and getting bitter.
3. Separate out a little bit of the onions for the grilled cheese sandwiches.
4. Add the tomato sauce, milk or half & half, ketchup, sugar and salt. If using frozen garlic, add it now.
5. Cook for a few minutes, then blend with a little water until it is nice and smooth.
6. Add it back to the pan adding water depending on how thin you like it.
7. Heat until hot, pour into bowls, and top with fresh basil.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
4 slices of whole wheat bread crusts removed
Mayo (optional)
Butter (or butter & olive oil spread)
Extra sharp cheddar cheese
Caramelized onions (see above)
Garlic powder

1. Lightly butter one side of all pieces of bread.
2. Lightly mayo the other side (the inside).
3. Top 2 of the breads with a little grated cheese.
4. Add a little of the onions and sprinkle with garlic powder.
5. Add a little more cheese.
6. Put the other pieces of bread on top creating a sammie. Mayo side goes inside.
7. Pan fry over medium low heat and flip once one side is brown and the cheese is starting to get melty.
8. Press down a little with your spatula and cook for a few more minutes until that side is browned and all these cheese is melted.