It's cold right now in NYC. Raining, and high possibility it will snow later. There's no way I'm leaving the house. But I'm hungry. So, I want something warm and yummy. As I look in my refrigerator, I see the cheese that I always have, and a loaf of bread and a can of tomatoes in my pantry. Obviously I need to make grilled cheese and tomato soup. Mmmm...Perfect pairing on a cold winters day, or any day for that matter. All you need is a few ingredients and you will have an incredibly satisfying meal in minutes! A couple of staples you should have in your pantry that have long shelf life are canned tomatoes and bottles of roasted peppers. (We'll cover the staples one should always have in our pantry another time! But for now, tomatoes and peppers are a must!) I like to add the peppers because it adds another element of flavor and smokiness that requires little effort, but makes a big difference! These ingredients are going to make up most of our soup. Now, some recipes call for fresh tomatoes. Unless you have a tomato garden in your apartment in New York City during the winter, you're not going to get the ripest and most beautiful tomatoes available. Canned tomatoes are great because they are always picked at their peak season and you know you always get the best tasting quality tomato.
