Easy Homemade Tomato Onion Soup

The weather impacts my food choices quite often.

I made this soup on a rainy summer day, and it perfectly fit the mood!

It's really easy. In fact, this recipe made me so excited because it's faster than heating up canned soup on the stove. Actually I think it takes just as much time as heating up canned soup in the microwave if you don't do much chopping (and it's barely any).

I think homemade things are almost always better. It's not very often I try something homemade and decide I'll stick with the store-bought version. Hmmm, I know I've decided it for something.

Marshmallows might not be worth making homemade every single time you want a s'more. However, they're definitely better tasting, so they're worth making if you want something nicer and you've got the time.

Almond milk is also something I don't feel like making homemade that often because I feel wasteful with all the almond pulp that's left over! I've looked into using it somehow, but haven't found many good options. (Let me know if you know of some great almond pulp uses!)

So I totally get it...homemade is often better, but not always worth it.

In this case, I believe it is. It takes little/no extra time, you can add your own spices and ingredients, and you get to use fresh fruits and veggies! I'm a fan. Perhaps you will be one soon as well :)

Tomato Onion Soup

This recipe was adapted from the recipe book that comes with a Vitamix

Ingredients (for approx. 2 1/2 c.)
3 roma tomatoes
1/4 c. sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 c. onion
1 tsp bouillon
1 tbs plain greek yogurt
1 cup steaming hot water

Heat water in microwave. Then begin by measuring and chopping ingredients. 

Put everything in blender in the following order: tomatoes, onions, cheese, yogurt/paste, bouillon, then water. Then blend for 2-3 minutes on high.

Pour into a dish. Examine the thickness...mine was quite runny at first but got thicker after setting a few minutes.

Add croutons or enjoy with bread if you know what's good for you ;)

Ta-da! Easiest soup in the world? 

Could be.

Notes:

-I enjoy onions. This soup is pretty onion-y. If you're less of an onion fan, I might suggest either cooking the onions first or adding less.
-I used greek yogurt because I didn't have any tomato paste. If you have some, you might want to use that instead. I'm sure it would give it a stronger tomato taste and would make it less creamy.
-This soup would be GREAT with grilled cheese. If you plan to eat it with grilled cheese, you may not even need the cheddar cheese in the soup (but might want to add milk or something in that case)

Everything (bagel) Pancakes

I've purchased bagels before.

At the grocery store, and at a bakery. The bagels at the grocery store tend to be on the drier side and overall not that impressive. At the bakery, they were great, but a bit overpriced (especially with cream cheese!) and not the healthiest breakfast option either...depending on the type you chose.

I've made bagels before.

Don't get me wrong, they turned out amazingly. They were delicious. But I remember them taking a little bit of time. Time that I don't usually have in the morning.

This is not a really bagel, it's a pancake. Technically. But maybe you could call it a panbagel if you so desired. (Now I'm thinking I should've made it into a ring shape!)

One of my favorite bagels is an everything bagel. That's why this turned out to be a wonderful and delicious breakfast side! It's extremely quick, and tastes spot-on. Not to mention, it's made with whole grain flour, and it's a savory pancake, so you can have some fruit or juice along with it without overloading on sugar in the morning.

Everything (bagel) Pancakes

Makes 1 serving: one large pancake (double it if you're sharing or very hungry!)

Pancake ingredients
4 tbs flour (oat&w.w. combo)
1/4 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
1/4 c. milk
1/3 tsp oil (and some for pan)
pinch of flax seed

Topping
poppy seeds
sesame seeds
1/4-1/8 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp minced onion
salt

Directions
Mix pancake ingredients. Pour onto hot pan at medium-high heat. Sprinkle poppy seeds, sesame seeds, garlic and onion on the uncooked side of the pancake, then flip when it starts to bubble a bit. Check it to see if it is browning, and if it's done, plate it and salt to taste (if you have coarse salt, this will be more like a bagel!).

Notes:
-garlic and onion powders can most likely be replaced for the minced kind. If using dried/powdered, I would suggest either adding it to the batter or adding it after cooked, so it doesn't get burnt.
-for an even more bagel-y taste, top with some whipped cream cheese (and for pretty-ness, put more poppy and sesame seeds on top!)