Emily Smith's Tomato Soup

2 red bell peppers

6-10 tomatoes (Roma,on the vine, or whatever) 

3 or 4 carrots (no need to peel) 

1 or 2 stalks of celery

2 onions 

*2 zucchinis (optional) 

1 whole head of garlic

Small can of tomato paste

1/2 cup cream 

Olive oil

3 T Butter 

Herbs: thyme, basil, parsley 

Seasoning: salt, pepper, chicken bouillon, tomato powder, red pepper flakes

Instructions: 

1. For roasting: season your roasting sheet (or two) with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cut tomatoes in half and put on baking sheet skin side up. Cut red peppers in half or fourths, remove seeds, and put skin side up. Chop up carrots and scatter on sheet. Cut head of garlic in half and put both halves on square of foil. Season generously with oil, salt, pepper and then wrap it all up in the foil. Drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper on veggies then roast in oven at 425 degrees for about 45 mins to an hour. 

2. Take soup pot and chunk up onions and celery and saute with butter, oil, salt, pepper, and thyme until its broken down quite a bit. Semi peel zucchini (to not make the color weird) and chop and saute those as well. Add other herbs and seasonings. 

3. Take out roasted veggies and pour them into soup pot including all the Juices. (Take the peels off of tomatoes and peppers if you want a smoother soup. But like I don't and it's a waste of time.) Unwrap foil around garlic and squeeze out the roasted garlic from the skins. Add tomato paste. Cook everything down with the lid off so water can evaporate. 

4. Once everything is tender, blend up everything with emertion blender. If too thick, add stock or water + bouillon. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Add milk and blend up again. If it's too acidic, add a little sugar to cut the acid. 

5. Enjoy :) serve with grilled cheese or toast. 

Notes: 

A. the red pepper flakes really makes it bomb, but be careful because it'll be subtle the day of, but for leftovers it will be much spicier. 

B. Add any other veggies, just be mindful of the color. It usually comes out dark orange. 

C. The soup 100000% gets better the next day so it's great for meal prep. 

D. Milk is optional but it makes it nice and creamy.