I’ve always been afraid to make tomato soup from scratch, simply because I thought that it would taste like I was eating pasta sauce!  I couldn’t have been more wrong!

I googled a couple recipe ideas, and then combine a couple to make this.

Grilled Tomato and Red Pepper Soup

  • 1.8 pounds tomatoes (that what they weighed after I took them off the grill)
  • 3 ounce red pepper
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 3 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. crush red pepper
  • a splash of Tabasco 😀

Grill tomatoes and red pepper until charred on all sides.  Remove to a bowl.  Heat olive oil in stock pot, add garlic and cook for 2 minutes.  Throw in the rest of the ingredients, bring to a boil, then simmer for 25 minutes.  I used my stick blender to puree everything.  When I put it in MasterCook this morning, I was happily surprised with the stats!

This made 5 one cup servings – each one cup serving comes in at:

  • 87.2 calories
  • 4 fat
  • 9.6 carbs
  • 4.4 protein
  • 2.2 fiber

So I have two cups for lunch today.  Campbell’s was always my go to for tomato soup, if I were to have two cups of that, look at the difference!

  • 360 calories
  • 0 fat
  • 80 grams of carbs!

Big difference!  And, I think mine tastes better! 😀

With 2.2 ounces rye bread, 1 ounce extra sharp cheddar cheese, I made a “Pam” fried grilled cheese on the side.

here's how it looks before it got to a boil
here's how it looks before it got to a boil
I had pretzels on the side, but realized with the rye bread that would have been too many carbs!
I had pretzels on the side, but realized with the rye bread that would have been too many carbs!
Perfect bite! You have to dunk the grilled cheese - pretty sure that's mandatory!
Perfect bite! You have to dunk the grilled cheese - pretty sure that's mandatory!

All together lunch comes in at 423 calories, 17 fat, 20 protein, 52 carbs and 5.7 fiber.

My friend and I did Level 1 of Jillian today – then I did 10 minute jog/sprint – I could only go at 6.0 mph!   It’s amazing with just a few days of slacking can do!

Crazy Meghann did ALL THREE LEVELS TODAY!  I think she needs her head examined! 😀  (I told her I was just a tad jealous because I can’t do that!).

Afternoon break is ovah – see you tonight for Pulled Pork Sandwiches and Cilantro Sourcream Potato Salad!