Oven Roasted Creamy Tomato Soup

Whenever there is a pot of soup simmering on my stove...all is right with my world.  Something about knowing a steaming hot bowl of comfort is just around the corner of my life, makes me feel very calm, happy and satisfied.

Soup-making can be an all-day-affair or it can be simple.  I personally feel it's one of those things you should start your kids off with when you teach them the ropes in the kitchen.  My kids became pros at making chicken and turkey stock at a young age and now my two tweens do it exclusively while I do other tasks...or relax! So guiding them into soup-making is easy. Check out my daughters method for making chicken stock.

There is almost nothing as delicious as a fresh picked summer tomato...eaten fresh off the vine or used in any dish you dream up.  I for one still crave tomatoes all winter long and do whatever I can to enjoy them...IF they look good that is.  Taking the extra step of roasting the tomatoes you can get your hands on in the winter, deepens their flavor and they just happen to make an extraordinary soup!

This soup is deep with flavor!  Tricking it out with avocado, guac and bacon is not necessary however  it was fun and rather tasty and I am going to do it again and again!

Roasted Tomatoes 
2 lbs Plum tomatoes, halved
3 TBS grapeseed or olive oil

2 tablespoons butter
1 heaping cup of chopped Vidalia onion
1 tablespoon sugar
Roasted Tomatoes & garlic from above
28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes*

2 cups chicken stock,