Tomatoes would have to be one of my all-time favorite foods. We rarely go a day without eating them in my household. With so many varieties available these days there is no limitation to creating wonderful recipes with the good ol' tomato - and so with that said, here's a very quick, easy and yummy Tomato Soup (and fully Vegetarian) Recipe that you may enjoy!

Quick Tomato Soup

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 medium onions, finely diced
• 2 carrots, finely diced
• 3 stalks celery, finely chopped
• 1 piece of turnip, cut into small pieces
• 1 sprig of thyme,
• 1 bouquet garni
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 pints (1.2 litres) vegetable stock
• 1 leek, finely diced
• 2 tins crushed tomatoes (or 3-4 cups fresh tomatoes)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon sugar, salt and pepper

And this is what to do with all those yummy ingredients . . .

1. Heat oil in large saucepan, add the onion and carrot and stir well for about 2 minutes over medium heat
2. Add celery and turnip and continue stirring for a further 2 minutes. Add the herbs and the stock, bring to boil and simmer for 20 minutes
3. Add the leek, tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar and seasoning , stir well and allow to simmer for a further 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender

Serve garnished with the fresh herbs.

PS > Here's some History about tomatoes:

• According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans eat more than 22 pounds of tomatoes every year. More than half this amount is eaten in the form of ketchup and tomato sauce.
• Technically a tomato is a fruit, since it is the ripened ovary of a plant. In 1893, the supreme court ruled in the case of "NIX vs. HEDDEN" that tomatoes were to be considered vegetables.
• There are more than 4,000 varieties of tomatoes, ranging from the small, marble-size cherry tomato to the giant Ponderosa that can weigh more than 3 pounds.