It's SOUP and CRACKERS!

OK, OK, I GOT IT!!
This is the soup I've been longing for - a creamy, subtly zesty, almost smooth, TOMATO-EY SOUP!

Here's how it goes (just remember I'm an "about" cook - the measurements are "about" that much...):

In the blender (Vita-Mix, of course):

*about 6 cups of really ripe tomatoes (squeeze the seeds out)

*about 2 c. very warm water

*2 stalks celery, chunked

*about 1/4 c. parsley loosely measured

*1 carrot, chunked or grated (I had some grated left overs, time saver!)

*about 1/4 c. onion, chunked

*a heaping Tablespoon tahini

*1 tsp. lemon juice

*about 1 T. Braggs Liquid Aminos

*about 1 T. agave nectar

Blend smooth as you like. The Vita-Mix actually heats the soup, with it's tremendous revolution rate. Adjust the taste to suit, with lemon, Braggs, agave. More creamy? Add a bit more tahini.

Now for the crackers. Actually, these begin two days previous, soaking the sunflower seeds overnight. Then soak 5 sundried tomotoes (3 oz. pkg works) for several hours previous to mixing.

SUNNY TOMATO CRACKERS

In food processor:

*1 c. soaked sunflower seeds, drained and rinsed, shake dry in strainer

*5 sundried tomatoes, soaked and drained

*1 med. zuchinni, chopped

*handful fresh basil

Process until smooth with a little bit of texture. Spread on teflex dehydrator sheets, about 1/4" thick. If you leave it thicker, it's more like a flat bread. For crackers, thinner works.

Dry at 115 degrees, about 8-12 hours. Check for crispness. Flip off teflex onto dehydrator tray, dry several more hours, checking for how crisp you want. Then break into cracker-size pieces, store airtight.

I left the basil out of the soup, knowing the crackers would pick it up. The combination of creamy rich tomato soup and crisp basil-laden, intensely tomato crackers rolled over the tastebuds like nirvana. {BIG SIGH}

This was a perfect lunch for an-almost fall day. The wind is picking up, anticipating thunder and hail by evening. That's OK. I have two quarts of luscious tomato soup to get me through the night!

Next up: that squash is headed for the soup "pot"...