Tomato-Basil Parmesan Soup

As of tonight we have a new favorite soup recipe! How lucky I am to have married a man who loves soup as much as I do, and how wonderful that Kris enjoys soup as well. This recipe was easy to prepare, and made the house smell heavenly all day. Oh, did I mention that it's a crock pot recipe?  I wish I had made a half-batch more because it would have easily fit in the pot.

Tomato-Basil Parmesan Soup

2 14-ounce cans diced tomatoes, with juice

1 cup finely diced celery

1 cup finely diced carrots

4 cups chicken broth*

1 cup finely diced onions

½ bay leaf

¼ cup fresh basil or 1 tablespoon dried basil

1 tablespoon fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano

½ cup butter (you better not use margarine if you know what’s good for you)

½ cup flour

1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

2 cups half and half, warmed

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1. In a large crock pot combine tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, bay leaf, fresh basil, and oregano (if using dried basil and/or oregano add the last hour of cook time).
2. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour then turn to low and cook for 4-6 hours, or until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft.
3. The fun part – about an hour before serving prepare roux: melt butter over low heat in a skillet; add flour and stir constantly with a whisk for 5-7 minutes (the roux will be golden brown and smell heavenly, but if you don’t whisk it constantly it will burn and you will have to start over).
4. S-l-o-w-l-y stir in 1 cup hot soup from the crock pot. Gradually add another 3 cups of soup in 1 cup increments, stirring after each addition until smooth.
5. Add all back into the crock pot. Stir and add Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook on low for another hour or until ready to serve. Do not allow to simmer after adding cream and cheese or they will curdle.

*I prefer Better Than Bouillon chicken base

I should have taken some to the Waymans because I used basil from their plant that I'm still babysitting, but instead we took a quart jar to Marie who is recovering from some dental work. She called later this evening to rave about it.