Tomatoes may well be my favourite food. Once, not all that long ago, I would have said that it was peanut butter. Since then I have made some changes to my eating habits and have put peanut butter aside for now, and once the craving stopped, I realized that the tomato is the true winner.

The tomato, most likely, originated in Peru where it is still possible to find them thriving in the wild. Tomatoes either canned or fresh, are a versatile food that adds taste, texture, colour and nutrition to a meal.

My earliest gardening memories are of the beefsteak tomatoes that my father grew. You could make a sandwich with just one slice. Add some mayo and pepper and it was a seasonal delight.

Today, we can buy tomatoes all year round but there is nothing like the taste of a vine ripened tomato that has just been picked.

Two slices of 12 grain bread, a little hot mustard, some romaine lettuce and a slice or two of tomato; add a dill pickle on the side and you have a great lunch.

The tomato is a fruit that many call a vegetable. North America did not warm to the tomato, when it first appeared on the scene, possibly because it is a member of the nightshade family, and this caused people to believe it to be poisonous. Some called it the love apple and refused to eat it.

Fortunately, we overcame that aversion and today the tomato is one of our most popular agricultural products.

Soup is a great way to use vegetables that have lost their visual appeal. Soup also gives us an opportunity to use parts of a vegetable that we may otherwise throw away or hopefully add to the compost pile. Broccoli stalks, celery, cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, onions and so much more, can all make a great soup base.

Recently rather than following the traditional soup making path, I thought I’d see what I could do with my blender. It makes great smoothies so why not soups. So I have been using these odds and ends to make blender soup.

Boil the assorted vegetables in a pot,cook for ten minutes. Let it cool and then add the stock and vegetables to your blender and blend.. Then reheat and serve, both tasty and good for you. It also takes around 15 minutes to make a great soup.

Blender soup is a great chance to experiment. Try adding hot sauce or chili pepper, a dab of butter or anything that you enjoy. Have some fun; after all eating is a personal and intimate experience so why not enjoy all the aspects that are involved.

Blender Tomato Soup:

Ingredients-

- 1 large onion, chopped

- 1 clove garlic peeled chopped (optional)

- 5 small ripe tomatoes, chopped

- 1 1/2 cups water

- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes or equivalent fresh

- dash of pepper and sea salt

- favourite hot sauce to taste, (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. Cool a few minutes. Blend in blender, reheat, and serve. This recipe will make soup for two, if you want to make soup for four, just double the quantities.

Add a green salad and a slice of French bread, maybe a piece of extra old cheddar cheese on the side and that is a great meal, anytime of the day or night.