It's sweltering here right now. I'm not quite sure how I've made it past the brutal Texas summers in the past, since this year is mild so far by comparison. Usually by now we're well into the 100's for many days in a row and you could literally fry and egg on the concrete. Even so, it's hot out. 90+ degrees lately and all the humidity you can stand. We actually had 100% humidity the other day. I think I'm officially growing gills this year due to the rains and humidity together.

Gills or no gills, I've officially banned the stove until late August or Early October.

Okay, okay, except for another birthday/party or two that I'll be making desserts for.

While the oven is out of commission until cooler weather arrives, my stove top, grill and crock pots have their work cut out for them. Even though it summer, I was really in the mood for some tomato soup; so I went to work coming up with a summer inspired variation of a winter staple in my home.

This simple, easy to make tomato soup is a perfect treat for summer. It can be served hot or cold, which for me is one of the best parts! The flavor of this soup screams summer to me. It's got the spice and smoky taste of BBQ, and the brightness of tomato and basil jam packed into it. Pretty good stuff.

I originally made this top to pair perfectly with a La Terra Fina Florentine Quiche. The great thing about this quiche is that you can heat it up in the microwave, so you get to enjoy the taste of a quiche without having to heat up your house in the summer.

Summer is a busy entertaining season, especially in my fold. We have nearly every birthday in our family within the matter of three months time. Never mind the other holidays and celebrations that go along with this time of year. La Terra Fina quiches are a summertime sidekick for stress-free entertaining all season long.

One of my favorite things about La Terra Fina quiches is that they are free from artificial flavors and preservatives. La Terra Fina’s savory quiches are made with natural ingredients and offer 10+ grams of protein per serving.

The quiches are available in 6-ounce and 23-ounce pies, these handcrafted cuties just need to be placed in the oven and are ready in minutes; which gives me all the more time to spend with friends and family.

My favorite so far is the Florentine, but my little one loved her mini quiche Lorraine!

Healthified Spicy & Smoky Tomato Soup
TheSkinnyFork.com

The Skinny:
Servings: 4 • Size: About 1 1/2 Cup • Calories: 107.7 • Fat: 3.7 g • Carb: 16.1 g • Fiber: 4.8 g • Protein: 3.6 g • Sugar: 9.6 g • Sodium: 543.6 mg

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Yellow Onion, Chopped
2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
1 (15 Oz.) Can Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
1 (15 Oz.) No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes
1 C. Reduced Sodium Chicken or Vegetable Broth
2 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
2 Tsp. Smoked Paprika
1/2 Tsp. BBQ Seasoning Blend
10 Fresh Basil Leaves
Salt & Pepper to Taste

Directions:

Place the olive oil into a soup or stock pot and heat over a medium heat.

Add in the onion and garlic; sauté until the onions are softened and the garlic is fragrant.

Add in the tomatoes, broth, tomato paste and spices; bring to a boil, stirring often.

Once the soup is boiling, toss in the basil leaves and remove the soup from the heat.

Puree the soup using a blender, food processor (with the vent cap removed), or an emersion blender.

Serve heated right away or transfer to a serving bowl to chill in the fridge for a cold 'gazpacho' style soup!

I served mine with this lovely Spinach & Artichoke Florentine quiche from La Terra Fina, yum!