Lunch: Roasted Tomato and Pepper Soup with Pesto Cream Cheese

This recipe was submitted by Real Women of PHILADELPHIA contestant Ann Miller-Tobin.

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Basil

Health benefits of Roasted Tomato and Pepper Soup with Pesto Cream Cheese

Basil is an excellent stress reliever, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Ingredients

4 lb. tomatoes
4 large red peppers
4 large yellow peppers
4 large green peppers
3 medium jalapeño peppers
2 large sweet yellow onions
1 head garlic
1 package bacon
1 c. fresh basil leaves
Sea salt
Pepper
4 tbsp. olive oil
1/4 c. butter
1 package Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1/4 c. pesto
4 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1 c. croutons

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Core and cut tomatoes in half and place in a large oven roasting pan. Add chopped peppers, sliced onions, chopped garlic, and uncooked bacon.
Add fresh basil leaves to the roasting pan mixture. Make sure the stems are removed and the leaves have been washed and patted dry. Salt and pepper all items in the roasting pan and toss.
Pour the olive oil over the items in the roasting pan and toss lightly.
Place the roasting pan full of veggies, bacon, and herbs into an oven on the middle upper rack and bake for approximately 30 minutes until everything is soft and juicy. Cool 10 to 15 minutes.
Blend veggies in batches in a blender on the liquefy setting. Pour the contents into a large stock pot or soup pan and heat over medium heat.
Once everything is blended and in the pot, add butter and 8 ounces PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese and stir until melted and incorporated. Salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the flavoring at this point according to taste, perhaps adding some Italian seasonings or red pepper flakes.
For the pesto cream sauce garnish, pick up a jar of pesto at the local grocer. Mix pesto with 4 ounces cream cheese.
When serving the soup, garnish with croutons and a dollop of the pesto cream cheese topping. Serve immediately and enjoy!