IRISH TOMATO/ BLUE CHEESE SOUP

IRISH BLUE CHEESE AND TOMATO SOUP

A wonderful full flavored soup.  Its even good cold.

Ingredients:

8 ripe tomatoes, cut in quarters

butter  (optional)

1 medium onion cut in quarters

1 stalk celery chopped

1 carrot, chopped

5 cups chicken stock

10 oz  blue cheese (I did not measure.  You might want to.)

¼ cup all purpose flour

2/3 cup half and half or fat free

Black pepper

2 T. Parsley for garnish

3 T. crumbled bacon

Directions:

In a saucepan on the stove, Place tomatoes, onion, celery and a carrot.  Cover.

Simmer for 20 minutes or until soft. Add chicken stock.

Heat again.  Then place in food grinder and puree.  Throw out the skin and seeds. 

Place pureed soup minus the seeds etc... back into pot.

Mix  by shaking flour and some cold water in small container until no lumps of flour are left.

Slowly add to soup pot.  Mix flour and soup.  Crumble blue cheese in soup and bring to boil.  Stir until all cheese is dissolved.

Use a immersion blender to smooth the soup.  Now heat on low and slowy add half and half.  Do not boil. 

Serve in a bowl with crumbled bacon and more blue cheese.  Sprinkle with parsley.