Winter Tomato Soup with Garlic Bread

Simple weeknights call for simple yet comforting soup & bread. Today's recipe is something very simple yet so scrumptious that everyone is my family just went head over heels for it. Although our regular dinner menu is usually simple like khichdi or simple fried rice, this soup & bread recipe is beyond simplicity. 

Someone has said it correct - In simplicity lies the most beautiful of emotions. I am not sure who said it, but whoever that was they were very very correct. 

Here goes the recipe for my take on the ever so comforting tomato soup & garlic bread (using regular white sliced bread). 

 Tomato Soup

• Roughly chop...
• Small piece of a red onion (like 1/4 cup chopped)
• 10-12 garlic pods
• 5 plump red tomatoes
• Heat oil in a soup pan (Deep, Heavy bottom & Preferably with a cover)
• Add a 1.2 inch piece of Cinnamon + 1 bay leaf whole
• Next add the chopped onions + Garlic
• Let it fry for 5-7 mins
• Next add the tomatoes + wee bit salt
• Cover & cook for around 10mins on Medium flame till the tomatoes smell like they are cooked
• Take the bay leaf & cinnamon out & discard.
• Cool the entire mixture till no smoke is coming out & then grind into a fine mixture.
• Heat 1 tbsp butter in the same soup pan again & when hot, keep a sieve on the pan & sieve the ground tomato mixture into the pan.
• Heat though till bubbles appear. Adjust with water as needed. Make sure that every time you add water, the entire soup comes to a boil. Please do not serve the soup without it reaching a boiling point. 
• At the end adjust for salt --> Add fresh ground pepper & serve hot with Garlic Bread. 

Simple Garlic Bread

• Mix the following ingredients
• Softened butter (1/2 cup)
• 2 tsp Garlic Powder (Note to self : Next time, let's use real garlic for an intense flavor)
• 2-3 tsp Dried Parsley
• Generously smear the butter spread on sliced bread
• Place on a baking sheet
• Bake on 400F for 8 minutes + 3 minutes on the middle rack in the oven