tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post4146920287008746806..comments2024-02-14T01:03:32.678+01:00Comments on THE GREAT BIG VEGETABLE CHALLENGE: T is for a Tomato Soup MemoryCharlotte Humehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18168363478317650666noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-83420095898797817752008-08-26T17:02:00.000+01:002008-08-26T17:02:00.000+01:00My own memory is of "Games" being the last lesson ...My own memory is of "Games" being the last lesson of the day at my old primary school, during some God-forsaken freezing cold month, and us having to play football for what seemed like hours, before trudging home, caked in mud and grime from head to foot.<BR/><BR/>I'd come through that door a boy of some 11 years old, covered in hoar-frost, and the smell that would greet me was that beautiful aroma of warming Heinz Tomato soup and toasting bread. <BR/><BR/>Sat down in front of a roaring gas fire (all four bars going), I would consume my soup and toast, and realise everything was alright after all. ;-)<BR/><BR/>The Imperial Leather soap also prompted a memory of my Grandmother's house, which smelt of that particular soap too. Ah, happy days... how I wish I could be back there among them, innocent and without a real care or problem in the World...James (UK)https://www.blogger.com/profile/09835526134217618466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-45482419368177943792008-05-03T23:57:00.000+01:002008-05-03T23:57:00.000+01:00That was a great story! I love the tomatoes pinned...That was a great story! I love the tomatoes pinned onto the door! My memory of tomato soup is of my mum warming up Heinz tomato soup for me whenever I was ill. I still crave it when I am poorly.Jacqueline Meldrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05748535381400208316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-52903799246048658852008-04-30T14:34:00.000+01:002008-04-30T14:34:00.000+01:00We had the VW Caravanette complete with gas stove ...We had the VW Caravanette complete with gas stove although I don't remember any sink. Ours was plain white - not the more common orange and white two tone paint job. We never used the stove to my recollection but we had many a splendid day out and picnicked round the table to escape the rain because of course English summer days out are always blighted by rain and no-one even had to get out of the van to reach the food. My 3 siblings and I used to spend the entire day before setting off on our family summer holiday to Wales packing the van, filling every little nook and cranny with everything you could possibly need on a 2 week caravan holiday, including as much food as we could stow.<BR/><BR/>PamelaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-2537734602520154792008-04-30T14:22:00.000+01:002008-04-30T14:22:00.000+01:00What a wonderful story! Thanks so much for sharin...What a wonderful story! Thanks so much for sharing it with us.Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02202463147917151854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-68404992320724866272008-04-30T13:27:00.000+01:002008-04-30T13:27:00.000+01:00I had a very similar holiday childhood - north of ...I had a very similar holiday childhood - north of the Border. The wellies were essential, as were the tins of tomato soup, which was compulsory along with cheese sandwiches, or cheesy pieces as we called them! :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-22756819127905285812008-04-29T17:29:00.000+01:002008-04-29T17:29:00.000+01:00I spent a chunk of my childhood confined to the so...I spent a chunk of my childhood confined to the sofa as a result of serious illness and I associate the taste of soup with that - so only fresh, chunky soup will do for me and I don't eat it often.<BR/><BR/>I do eat pasta though... Slice a red onion and two gloves of garlic as finely as you can without cutting your fingernails and cook both gently in 1-2tbsp olive oil until the onion is soft and translucent (but not brown). While the onion is cooking, take a large punnet of cherry tomatoes and slice the tomatoes in two - or quarters if they're quite large. Slice a courgette quite finely. When the onions/garlic are soft, add the tomatoes and courgette to the pan, season with sea salt and black pepper, and cook gently until the tomatoes are just going soft. Stir in some torn basil leaves and eat with linguine.<BR/><BR/>CaroBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-36527209398158011762008-04-29T10:50:00.000+01:002008-04-29T10:50:00.000+01:00Tomatoes are delicious and I like to just eat the ...Tomatoes are delicious and I like to just eat the little ones as snacks like grapes. However, when I was 12 I had a party where we were served a sizable cherry tomato that was hollowed out with chicken salad inside of it. I thought that it was basically the coolest thing ever. If you can get smaller tomatoes they are absolutely great for stuffing with things. You can bake them if you like but I enjoy them as finger food the most.Mizufaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11867738623907440946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-74847525360404841552008-04-29T09:11:00.000+01:002008-04-29T09:11:00.000+01:00Tomato soup was always the tinned variety and asso...Tomato soup was always the tinned variety and associated with recovering from childhood illnesses like measels!<BR/><BR/>I do have another tomato memory 'Baked tomatoes with cheese on toast'. This was waiting for me when I came home from school (a long bus journey) hot and juicy with molten cheese spooned over a thick slice of toast. <BR/>Slice large tomatoes in half and put in an oven proof dish cut side up. Place slices of mature cheddar cheese over the top and put in the oven until the tomatoes are soft and the cheese bubbling and crispy round the edges. Spoon over a thick slice of toast, add black pepper and basil leaves for a deluxe version. Perfect comfort food :)<BR/><BR/>CeliaCelia Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12776686088752602321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-75612602617654296042008-04-29T08:15:00.000+01:002008-04-29T08:15:00.000+01:00JDIt seems the joys of tomato soup are universal!JD<BR/>It seems the joys of tomato soup are universal!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-41532923861666032642008-04-28T20:34:00.000+01:002008-04-28T20:34:00.000+01:00I don't really have any clear tomato soup recipes ...I don't really have any clear tomato soup recipes from my childhood but I'll bet my sons do: Once in a while, when I hadn't homemade soup on hand, I'd heat up a tin of Campbell's tomato soup and they absolutely loved it served with peanut butter on whole wheat toast! JD from CanadaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-82361027790342660522008-04-28T15:22:00.000+01:002008-04-28T15:22:00.000+01:00Cynthia it was. I remember all the nooks and crann...Cynthia it was. I remember all the nooks and crannies. There were board games, packs of cards, napkins, sticking plasters, blankets and cushions. I loved it<BR/><BR/>Moonwaves - Love the sound of your tart. Will print this off asap. <BR/><BR/>Ben - Please do. If there is a simple one even better because I have to work away from home part of this week and wont be able to do much complicated cooking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-45613001665025504802008-04-28T15:13:00.000+01:002008-04-28T15:13:00.000+01:00Definitely not! As a kid I wouldn't eat the "colo...Definitely not! As a kid I wouldn't eat the "colour soups" i.e. no oxtail or tomato for me, I'd only eat the beige ones (asparagus, vegetable, chicken). Still don't like tomato soup although I will throw a tin of tomatoes into a vegetable soup every once in a while.<BR/><BR/>My favourite ways to eat tomatoes are (a) really fresh tomatoes with mozarella and basil (or feta) and (b) tomato tart. Make some shortcrust pastry and roll out into a not-very-deep dish. Spread some mustard on the pastry (I like using a wholegrain mustard that's quite mild). Sprinkle a thin layer of grated cheese on top of that. Then arrange loads ofslices of de-seeded tomatoes on top of that. The cheese seeps up through the tomato slices and it looks lovely. For a particularly lavish version add a couple of slices of mozarella on top. Add plenty of dried oregano and basil, some pepper and salt if you like (I don't find it necessary but my sister always adds it). Cover and bake for about twenty minutes (at around 180 degrees), remove cover and bake another 5 or 10 minutes. Delicious hot and also yummy cold (although there's rarely enough leftovers to realise that!).Moonwaveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16018956740090192993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-88482234196396419762008-04-28T14:20:00.000+01:002008-04-28T14:20:00.000+01:00That van sounds like it was a little treasure trov...That van sounds like it was a little treasure trove.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01565340772467109199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-28279285654075255532008-04-28T12:18:00.000+01:002008-04-28T12:18:00.000+01:00DaveI know. But I am tempted...Are you even allowe...Dave<BR/>I know. But I am tempted...Are you even allowed to park there anymore? Probably not. <BR/>In 1975 so many more things were possible....<BR/>Ch<BR/>xAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-67625322562956168312008-04-28T12:07:00.000+01:002008-04-28T12:07:00.000+01:00If you ever get a camper I would suggest not parki...If you ever get a camper I would suggest not parking it in front of the Science Museum nowadays :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-15999583425700026402008-04-28T10:41:00.000+01:002008-04-28T10:41:00.000+01:00Joanna I know - you cant beat a tin of tomato soup...Joanna <BR/>I know - you cant beat a tin of tomato soup. Well you can - but people always love the taste of Campbells or Heinz....<BR/>I just thought I wanted to try and make something that had come from fresh tomatoes and was still creamy....<BR/>Freddie would have been happy with either I think - He gave this 8 out of 10. The tinned version would have been given 10 out of 10 I suspect!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37188293.post-81215588214147401542008-04-28T08:20:00.000+01:002008-04-28T08:20:00.000+01:00My tomato soup memory is - as a newly-wed seeking ...My tomato soup memory is - as a newly-wed seeking to impress with my cooking skills - of spending a sizeable portion of the morning making tomato soup, and everyone assuming I had opened a tin of Heinz ;) So that's what I've done ever since :)<BR/><BR/>Perhaps this soup has a slightly different take ...<BR/><BR/>JoannaJoannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06790888857849562408noreply@blogger.com