Sunny Day Tropical Soup Recipes

SUNNY'S SIMPLE ROASTED TOMATO SOUP WITH BROILED CHEESE TOAST

Steps:

• For the soup: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with nonstick aluminum foil.
• Drizzle some olive oil in a zig-zag motion on the foil. Add the thyme and garlic and season the baking sheet with salt and pepper. Place the tomatoes, bell peppers and jalapeno on the baking sheet sliced-side down, covering the garlic cloves and thyme as you go along. Pour over the onions, drizzle the top of everything with olive oil and season again with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Roast until the onions are golden and slightly charred, about 40 minutes.
• Transfer everything from the baking sheet to a blender in batches and pulse until smooth. Pour into a pot and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring the entire time. Add enough vegetable stock to achieve the desired consistency; you may not use it all. Keep warm on low.
• For the toast: Preheat the broiler on high.
• Put a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet and arrange the bread on the rack. Top each piece of bread with a slice of cheese and place under the broiler. WATCH while they cook: the cheese will melt and bubble, then the corners will begin to blacken--pull them out then! This takes less than a minute. Serve aside or atop a bowl of soup.

SUNNY'S EASY CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• For the tortilla strips: Heat the oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the tortilla strips and cook, stirring, until they are crispy, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle lightly with salt. Set aside.
• For the soup: In the same pot, add the cumin, paprika, jalapeños, onion and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the veggies are soft and tender, about 8 minutes. Add the stock and diced tomatoes and green chiles. Bring to a simmer. Add the chicken and simmer until the chicken is warmed through.
• For serving: Serve in bowls with a pile of the fried tortilla strips and some yogurt and hot sauce, if desired, on the side.

RAINY DAY SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray, cook turkey over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 60-70 minutes or until the vegetables and barley are tender.