This Week's "Scrumptious" Saturday Recipe

When the weather is cold...all I ever feel like doing is curling up on the couch with a comfy blanket and watching movies all day and night with, of course,  lots of yummy food to eat!  I have the perfect recipes to share with you on this chilly weekend!!  They're hot, creamy and cheesy....your classic comfort food! They do have some calories, but remember..... it is Scrumptious Saturday after all! 

Creamy Tomato Soup with
Extra Cheesy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches


Soup Ingredients
· 4 cups half and half (or you can use whole milk)
· 3 (14-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, drained
· 2 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
· 1 medium onion, chopped
· Salt and pepper
· 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
· 2 tablespoons butter, cut in pieces (at room temperature)
· 1 stalk of celery, coarsely chopped
· 1 clove garlic

Soup Instructions
Heat the half and half over medium heat in a medium sized pot. Put tomatoes, tomato paste, onions, salt and pepper, flour, butter, celery into a food processor or blender and grind until smooth. Pour mixture into half and half and raise heat to bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.

Sandwich Ingredients
· 1 pound fresh mozzarella, cut into 4 equal pieces
· 8 slices of whole grain bread
· 2 large eggs
· 1/2 cup heavy cream
· 1 teaspoon fresh chives
· 1 teaspoon salt
· 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
· 2 tablespoons butter

Sandwich Instructions
Place the mozzarella on 4 slices of the bread, then top with the other slices. In a wide shallow bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the cream, chives and salt. Whisk until well blended.  In a large nonstick saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat until smoking. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and cook until the sizzling subsides. Dip 2 of the sandwiches into the egg mixture, turning to coat, place in the pan, and cook until golden brown on the first side, about 2 minutes. Flip over and brown on the other side. Transfer the sandwiches to individual plates and repeat the process with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon of butter, and 2 sandwiches.  Cut in half and serve with the soup!