Tomato Basil Bisque & A Special Kind of Soup Supper

I love cooking but not many people know that I really enjoy music, too.  I’m not particularly talented and I don’t have much time to practice.  But music is a bit like standing at my stove.  It starts out a little stiff, but as I let the stress that drove me to my piano go – the music starts to come along and peace starts to develop like a good loaf of bread or great soup in my stock pot does.

Since I don’t have time or amazing musical talent, I love the music of others and the opening songs of services are what help to open my heart to worship.  A well selected hymn with reasonable harmonies fills my soul and reminds me of my childhood worshipping with my family.  A good modern chorus helps me to open my heart to the message and time in God’s house.  I have to admit that sometimes when my heart isn’t in the right place for the message from the sermon, the music often feeds my heart.

I’ve been blessed to be in churches that have amazing people who have talent that surpasses mine and our church home is especially blessed right now with musical gifts that are freely shared.  This weekend some of the crew from the worship team and other worship teams from churches around our community shared their talents and provided a concert of praise while community folks ate soup and some desserts for a free-will donation that supports a local home.

This is a special home…It is a refuge for women who have been recovered from the sex trade and human trafficking and want to leave that life behind.  These women are provided the basics of shelter, food and maybe for the first time they are also given safety and support and exposure to God’s love.  It’s a faith based shelter and not everyone who has come through the home has been able to leave the industry when they leave the home, but so many have risen above what has been done to them and their past experiences to be survivors moving forward in a life that can only be seen as redeemed.

I went to the event with my teenaged daughter.  We didn’t get to stay as long as I would have liked.  There was really good music happening, but there were responsibilities to deal with at home.  I shared some soup from my kitchen along with over 20 other kitchens in my community. That is the stage I’m comfortable on and this cause is one that touches my heart deeply. I look at my beautiful daughter and her friends and classmates and I wonder how anyone could hurt them like that… Those women are someone’s daughter… We are called to stand in the gap for them and their chance at freedom.

If you don’t know much about human trafficking and how it fuels the sex trade, low paid labor and the fashion industry internationally, please take some time and visit these websites…

https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking

https://love146.org/

http://wingsofrefuge.net/  

Actor, Ashton Kutcher recently testified to a congressional committee about his organization Thorn and the work that needs to be done in human trafficking.  His testimony broke my heart and will teach you a few things about the victims and the systems that are trying to save them. You can view his testimony here : https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4656862/ashton-kutcher-human-trafficking

Now think about hosting your own soup and music event to make donation and a difference. There are several places that can make a difference in human trafficking from Foster Care support to recovery homes or organizations like Kutcher's Thorn. 

My point is do what you can.  Sing, make a pot of soup, sell Tupperware, make cookies or holiday cards, have a garage sale...It doesn't have to be amazing, it just needs to get done.

If you do have a soup and praise supper I'm sharing my recipe for an easy one for you to make as the host.  It will give you plenty of freedom to do what you need to.  It is the smaller version of what I brought to share at this weekend’s event.

Tomato Basil Bisque or Freedom Soup

The Groceries:

3 T Olive Oil

Garlic Paste equal to 4 cloves of garlic

1 packed cup of Yellow Onion, chopped

½-1 rib of celery chopped fine

2 mini Sweet Peppers chopped fine

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 28 oz can Italian chopped tomatoes (I like Dei Fratelli brand for both)

1 C chicken stock/broth (can substitute vegetable stock for vegetarian and if your stock is gluten free this soup will also be gluten free)

2 T sugar

1/3 C 1/2&1/2

1-2 t basil puree (to taste) 7 leaves if using fresh

¼ t dried oregano

Salt and pepper to taste

The Process:

Sauté veggies in olive oil until softened.
Puree veggies with tomatoes and return to soup pot.
Add stock and seasonings.
Let simmer 12-15 minutes stirring until thickens a bit. 
Pour 1/2n1/2 in very slowly while whisking vigorously so it doesn’t curdle in the soup.
Taste for seasoning and add additional basil or oregano to taste.  (I use garlic salt at this point as well if needed.)

I serve with toasted garlic chips or seasoned croutons or grilled three (provolone, Gouda and farmers) cheese sandwich.

Makes 4 servings

Credit where credit is due... I've adjusted a few things in this recipe from this original recipe: http://www.thenovicechefblog.com/2013/09/creamy-tomato-soup-panera-copycat-recipe/