Pioneer Potluck: Mom made great tomato soup

  • By Grannie Annie
  • Tuesday, September 8, 2015 5:45pm
  • LifeFood
Pioneer Potluck: Mom made great tomato soup

My  mom  made  wonderful  homemade  tomato  soup.  I  think  this  in  one  of  the  lost  recipes.

She  canned  quarts  of  tomatoes  for  the  winter  time  supply  of tomatoes  in  earlier  years.  She  stopped  canning  tomatoes  after  they  were  so  plentiful  in  a can  in  a  store.  After  all,  as  you know,  they  are  a  lot  of  work  to can.

As  well  as  I  can  remember: one  quart  of  canned  tomatoes, heat  to  almost  boiling.  Stir  in  a PINCH  of  soda.  Stir  in  1  cup  of cream.  Ladle  into  bowls  and  top with  one  spoonful  of  homemade butter.  Pass  the  homemade  bread  and  butter.  Or sometimes,  she  would  break  up  crackers  into  the soup  before  she  ladled  it  into  our  bowls.  And then  topped  it  with  butter  and  salt  and  pepper.  Or this  was  my  favorite:she  would  put  homemade noodles  in  the  hot  tomatoes,  let  them  simmer until  tender.  Pour  into  warm  bowl  and  top  with the  homemade  butter,  salt  and  pepper.  I  would ask  for  this  once  in  a  while.  She  would  look  at me  and  say,  “I  have  to  make  noodles  first,  some other  time.”  Tomato  soup  was mom’s  instant  lunch.  And  adding the  noodles  was  our  supper dish  with  homemade  bread, butter,  and  her  wonderful  dill pickles  and  chocolate  cake  for dessert.

Or  today,  two  cans  of  your favorite  type  of  tomatoes, stewed,  whole,  diced,  Italian, or  Mexican.  I  love  to  use  all  of the  different  flavors.  Heat  but do  not  boil.  Stir  in  a  PINCH of  soda,  and  stir  in  about  1  cup of  cream  or  milk  or  2  percent milk,  or  as  we  like  it,  one  cup  of canned  milk.  Take  off  heat  and ladle  into  warm  bowls.  Top  with  a  spoon  full  of butter,  salt  and  pepper.  Pass  the  crackers.

When  Bob  and  I  were  moved  into  the  cabin, we  did  not  have  much  in  our  cupboards,  and after  a  real  long  day  of  sun  that  went  down  at midnight  I  asked  him  if  he  liked  heated  stewed tomatoes  and  crackers.  He  said  it  was  his  one  of his  favorites.  So  we  have  that  once  in  a  while.

This  simple  dish  brings  back  much  pleasure  and  warm  memories.

More in Life

The cast of “Annie” rehearse at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central hits the big stage with ‘Annie’

The production features actors from Kenai Central and Kenai Middle School

Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh in “We Live in Time.” (Promotional photo courtesy A24)
On the Screen: Pugh, Garfield bring life to love story

“We Live in Time” explores legacy, connection and grief through the pair’s relationship

Mary Nissen speaks at the first Kenai Peninsula history conference held at Kenai Central High School on Nov. 7-8, 1974, in Kenai, Alaska. Photo provided by Shana Loshbaugh
Remembering the Kenai Peninsula’s 1st history conference — Part 2

The 1974 event inspired the second Kenai Peninsula history conference, held in April, 2017

This slow-simmered ox tail broth makes this otherwise simple borscht recipe quite luxurious. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Borscht from the source

This homestyle stew recipe draws on experience of Russian cook

In 1954, David Nutter (right) and his younger half-brother Frank Gwartney were ready for their first day of school in Sitka. (Photo courtesy of the Nutter Family Collection)
Finding Mister Nutter — Part 6

Chasing down the facts about Warren Nutter was never going to be simple

Photo provided by Shana Loshbaugh
Dena’ina writer, translator and ethnographer Peter Kalifornsky speaks at the first Kenai Peninsula history conference held at Kenai Central High School on Nov. 7-8, 1974.
Remembering the Kenai Peninsula’s 1st history conference — Part 1

Kenai Peninsula history gathering 50 years ago remains relevant and rousing

File
Minister’s Message: My upstairs or your upstairs?

The question challenges us to consider our own eternal destination and relationship with Jesus

tease
Off the shelf: Memoir ponders life’s un-expectations

‘The Crane Wife’ is part of the Homer Public Library’s 2024 Lit Lineup

tease
Anticipating candy-coated revelry

These popcorn balls, done three ways, are a classic Halloween treat

Most Read