Soup 'n Sammies

Ingredients:
Salt and pepper to taste
High temperature cooking oil (ex. grapeseed oil, canola oil)
5 cloves of garlic
1 large white onion
Sugar to taste
Basil to taste
2 28oz cans of diced tomato, not drained
1/4 cup sherry cooking wine

Recipe:
1. Dice the large white onion and mince 5 cloves of garlic.
2. Carefully pour cooking oil into a large soup pot over medium heat.
3. Add diced onions to the oil and stir to coat. Cook until translucent, about 3–4 minutes. It should smell delicious and be sizzling vibrantly.
4. Add garlic, stir, and cooking until fragrant, about 30 seconds–1 minute.
5. Carefully pour in diced tomatoes and juice. Stir to incorporate. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for roughly 30 minutes.
6. Add salt, pepper, and basil. Taste, then adjust seasonings to your preference. Add sugar by the teaspoon to cut acidity if needed. Taste as you go, always with a clean spoon, and be careful—it’s hot!
7. For a smoother soup, blend with an immersion blender to desired consistency. Alternatively, very carefully blend the soup in batches in a blender. Take the small handle out of the blender lid, put the lid on the blender vessel, and place a kitchen towel over the opening to allow steam to escape but avoid the mess!
8. Enjoy with your homemade ham and cheese subs on garlic bread!

Ingredients:
1 loaf of your favorite crusty bread
1 pound sliced muenster
1 pound sliced ham
4 tbsp butter
2 to 4 cloves of garlic
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp parsley

Recipe:
1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Melt half the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
3. Add garlic, stir, and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
4. Add the rest of your butter, herbs, and pepper. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes to let the butter clarify and flavors infuse!
5. Split your crusty loaf of bread down the middle, hot dog style, to make a top and bottom for the sandwich.
6. Carefully spoon molten herbed garlic butter onto the bread, brushing it all over with the back of a large spoon or a pastry brush.
7. Layer ham slices on one long side of the bread and cheese slices on the other.
8. Bake, open-faced, for 5 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted and edges of the bread are suitably crispy.
9. Let rest 5 minutes, then close the open-faced sub. Carefully cut into desired portions.
10. Enjoy with your homemade tomato soup!