Roasted Tomato & Basil Soup
~ Chef Melissa

This is a wonderful comforting soup for fall. And read about all the health benefits!

Ingredients:
~ 2 pounds  tomatoes, quartered
~ 3 tablespoons olive oil
~ 4 cloves garlic
~ 1 quart vegetable stock
~ 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
~ 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
~ salt to taste

Directions:
1) Place the tomato halves, cut side up, on a baking tray with the garlic cloves. Drizzle with the oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast at 375 degrees F (195 degrees C) for 1 hour.
2) Snip the ends off the garlic cloves, and squeeze the insides into the bowl of a food processor along with the entire contents of the baking tray. Add stock, basil, and vinegar; blend until smooth. Season to taste. Serve either hot or cold.

Health Benefits

Tomatoes tone your stomach, cleanse your liver and purify your blood. By relieving heat and stagnation in the liver, they help to reduce accompanying symptoms such as high blood pressure, red eyes, and headaches. Even though an acidic fruit, after digestion the tomato alkalizes the blood and so is useful in reducing the acid blood of rheumatism and gout.

Garlic is one of the best detox foods on the planet!  Garlic activates liver enzymes to filter out junk of all kinds (ex. heavy metals, parasites). Garlic is also known for clearing arteries, lowering cholesterol and preventing cancer.

Basil  is a powerful detoxifier. It has strong antioxidant powers that can prevent premature aging &  even cancer. The flavnoids in basil protect cell structures from radiation & oxygen-based damage.