I don't know about you, but Tomato Soup is one of my comfort foods. This recipe allows me to still have it and lose weight.

I'm way too lazy to peel my own tomatoes, but it's nice to know I could. I'll also use my food processor. I know very few people besides Ina Garten who own and use a food mill.

While I've not tried to do it yet, I may even attempt making this into a Cream of Tomato Soup by adding in a cup of cream just before serving.

Another request- If you happen upon any bean soups (in the next month 1/2) I'd appreciate it for my mushie stage since they're so high in protein. I'm hoping to avoid the 'protein shake' completely if possible since my NUT doesn't recommend them (wish there was a protein pill). I'm so excited...I'll have so much variety to eat with all your recipes! THANKS! -BG

One of my best bean soups is here:

Fat Frog Diary: St Patrick's Day- Green Chili Stew

I'll try to find you some more. I can't have too many bean recipes because they're higher in carbs. For me, well cut up meat easily passes the stoma. During my mushie phase I ate a lot of tuna, salmon, and canned chicken recipes. I did not have any trouble making a minimum of 50g of protein a day, and only drank the shakes during my liquid phase.

Thanks Lena! I forgot about the higher carb thing, but during the mushie phase I don't think it will matter as much...maybe. Good to know you didn't have to rely on shakes long.

Guess what I did all most of the day...made my broth...AND the chicken salad...AND cream of broccoli soup! More tomorrow! Gotta go bag it all up before the kids come home and eat my liquids and mushie supplies! Yummy!!! THANKS!!!

The chicken salad, broth, and broccoli soup are great! I have so many little food saver bags in my freezer now. Thanks!

I added another meal to my afternoon of cooking (warning-me getting creative with cooking again). I spent the time to take the bones out of the leftovers from the broth and then I pureed the veggies and the meat from the bones. It looks like baby food...nope, make that more like baby poop (bet it looks the same coming out as going in). I thought I might get desperate enough during my 5 weeks of mushies. I remembered people saying they pureed their meat with a little broth during this stage, so I figured this couldn't be that different (hated to throw all that good stuff away). It actually doesn't taste bad when you close your eyes...kinda like chicken pot pie...after you chew a bite in your mouth...and spit it out...and chew it again, and spit it out....

I talked to my nutritionist about beans, and while she was somewhat disapproving because of the higher carb count, she did reluctantly say a few beans during the mushie stage wasn't so bad a thing.

Do you know the Depression-era recipe called Pot Liquor Stew?

Does it look like baby poop?

Oh, and thanks for the bean info. ...mushie stage only!