Tomato Rice Soup for the two I love!

My best friend Liz is in town this week and I couldn't be happier.  She lives back home in Albuquerque so we see each other major holidays if that.  So having her here is awesome!  I need me some best friend time.  (since 4th grade!) 

So at the request of my hubby and the agree of the bestie I made tomato rice soup with grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner.  Might I say a FINE choice.

While I'm usually inclined to make my tomato soup from scratch, while shopping and found 1.99 pints of fresh made organic tomato and basil soup at fresh and easy on sale.  Their soups are usually full of flavor and yum, so I decided to be a tad lazy and let F/E make the soup.  I steamed rice in the rice steamer and grilled up some grilled cheeses.  This may not be the most "healthy" meal, but man the comfort is there <3



Tomato Rice Soup and Grilled Cheese

2 pints tomato soup (organic or fresh if you can)
2 cups fancy quality rice rinsed
2 cups water
2 slices of bread
2 2% Cheddar Singles
Butter/Margarine

Start the rice in the rice cooker.  It is always same parts rice to water.  I highly recommend investing in a rice cooker if you do not have one. 

While the rice is preparing, start warming the soup in a pan on the stove, covered.  Stir every 5 minutes and allow soup to start to bubble.  Once bubbling reduce to medium low for 5-10 minutes or until soup is hot.  Rice should be done by now.

For grilled cheese put a thin layer of butter on eat side of all four slices.  Place a cheese single between a pair of slices and drop on a griddle on medium.  Watch to make sure bread doesn't burn!  Turn once brown.  Slice any way you like.  I like mine cut on the diagonal twice making 4 little squares, the hubby likes it half down the middle, and the bestie likes it one cut on the diagonal.

Now that sandwiches are done spoon desired amount of rice in bowl.  Follow with a ladle of hot tomato soup... and dinner is served!

You can of course add cheese, sour cream, Tabasco, and many other condiments.

We went the old school way :) Belly's full of warm comfort food equals happy laughing people.  And made Liz sleepy. 

Hubby and I are now in the living room sharing some tea.  Well he's playing Black Ops COD and I'm blogging :)

Tomorrow may be Monday, but tomorrow we make a pork shoulder. Oooh the possibilities :)