Two weeks ago, which now feels like a season ago, we enjoyed this delicious soup that Janaki made. We sipped it on a brisk afternoon under a beautiful sun that made us believe that spring could be around the corner. Then Vancouver was covered in snow. I'm not complaining, but it made these photos seem silly. It hit me at some point that a warm bowl of easy homemade tomato soup with Janaki's "Trailer Trash" cheese toasts is perfect for this weather.

This meal takes a total of 20 minutes to make and starts with a one can of Italissima's Organic Peeled Tomatoes ($3.75). Of course, using fresh tomatoes is always the best, but for a simple dish that can be quickly prepared, Italissima products are a substitute we proudly recommend. Next you'll need an onion, chopped finely, a litre of chicken stock (homemade preferred), ground cumin, rosemary, salt and pepper to taste. Throw the aforementioned ingredients in a medium-sized pot, and boil the ingredients down. The last step is to use an immersion blender to purée the pot's contents into a fine, yet textured, soup. The cheese toasts are comprised of fresh baguette, finely minced garlic, "white trash" (i.e. French's brand) mustard and your favorite cheese.

In the end, you will be rewarded with a very delicious soup and accompaniment.

Photography & Discourse | Luis Valdizon