With a blizzard blowing outside, nothing feels better than a soup to warm my body and soul. I could have fixed a potato soup, but I wanted something yummy and light on my stomach. Luckily I had a can left from those yummy italian tomatoes.

Though I really was looking forward eating this soup, my children were less than thrilled so I decided to fix some Panini for them.

Ingredients for a soup and Panini for 4 people;

• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 sweet onion sliced and diced thinly
• 1 can of italian tomatoes
• 2 tbsp of basil chopped thinly
• 2 tbsp of brown sugar
• 2 cups of vegetable broth or more if you wish to make the soup thinner
• pepper and salt to taste

Ingredients for 6 Panini:

• 1 whole French bread sliced thinly
• 1 block of aged sharp cheddar grated
• 1 block of smoked gouda grated
• 1/4 cup of garlic minced from a can ( or fresh).

1. In a large pot, warm up the olive oil and when the olive oil is hot, saute the onion until it is soft and translucent.
2. Add the basil and saute it as well.
3. Then add the diced tomatoes, sugar, pepper and broth and stir.
4. Bring the mixture to boil and when it has, turn the heat down and cook for 15 minutes.
5. Taste and add salt and pepper if necessary.
6. While the soup is cooking, prepare the Paninis.
7. Slice the bread very thinly.
8. Spread some garlic paste over every other slice of bread, then sprinkle the mixture of cheese on that same bread. Sprinkle pepper.
9. Place a slice of bread over the cheese and cook the panini either into a Panini press or onto a silpat for 5-8 minutes in  a warm oven of 400.
10. Repeat until you have cooked all the paninis.
11. Serve warm with the tomato soup. Yum!!!!

Bon Appetit and Happy Cooking!!!