It's still winter and the hot soup tastes good. My family's early life version of this week's recipe came, of course, from the American icon of canned soups and from a 2 pound brick of "cheese" in neat square slices. We had pimentos in the "cheese" if we had company.
This updated recipe comes from an excellent home cook living in Michigan. Learning to eat fresh, seasonally, and locally more often has been a major benefit of having the farmers' market at the hospital. However, I sometimes really miss vegetables that aren't in season. It is going to be quite a while before luscious tomatoes grace the market.
This tomato bisque recipe uses canned tomatoes with excellent flavor. Recent taste tests reported in the media give very high ratings to Muir Glen® Organic Tomatoes that come whole, diced or crushed. Evidently, their packaging is better as the cans are lined preventing any metallic taste.
Some of the other ingredients are available at the market. Dried thyme also works well, but fresh is better.
This is so good that I recommend you double the recipe for serving at a second meal.