the best tomato soup IN THE WORLD

finally, it was time to make tomato soup (august 13th). i can not tell you how excited i was. the reason i grow tomatoes, is to make tomato soup. my mother started making this soup when i was a little girl and my father had an amazing vegetable garden. i can actually remember numerous times that my mother would yell at my father for growing too many vegetables, saying she couldn't possibly cook them all. she's crazy.

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anyway, luckily she found this recipe in the new york times in the 70's or 80's, by the then food editor craig claiborne (similar to mark bittman today). i'm not sure how much she altered it over the years...i know i have (more herbs!), but it's probably not that far from the original.

i don't know why this soup is so good. it could just be the nostagla i have for my father's garden and my mother's cooking every time i eat it. or, it could be the fact that i've never had it without homegrown or farmer's market tomatoes. or, it may just be all the butter and cream. 

now i hope i haven't built this up so much that it will be a disappointment if you actually make it! but if you do, i have to say that i don't peel, seed or do anything to the tomatoes other than chop them pretty small. i like all the bits, though i know some people do not. and i usually add about 5 or 6 sprigs of thyme and 6-8 basil leaves but i love herbs! oh and you have to make croutons! garlicky, crusty, delicious croutons! yum!