Tomato Soup

3 lb ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, crushed
1 large potato, peeled and grated
fresh basil leaves
2 - 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 tablespoon tomato purée
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of olive oil
a knob of butter

peel the tomatoes ( place tomatoes in to a bowl and pour boiling water over, leave a few seconds, the peel should come off easily )

sweat the chopped onion in the heated olive oil until soft

add the chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, crushed garlic, salt and pepper some of the basil leaves and stir

pour the stock over it and let it simmer for 30 - 40 minutes

grate a potato into the soup and let it simmer another 10 -15 minutes

blend it until smooth, if no pips are required push through a sieve

let some butter melt in the soup

decorate with basil leaves serve with olive foccacia.