Don't you worry...I won't be inflicting these on you...much! ; D
You must try these...the recipes that is! First that super creamy tomato basil soup...recipe compliments of La Madeleine...one of my all-time favorite hang-outs in Dallas. I used a 12 oz. can of tomato puree and a 12 oz. can of crushed tomatoes. I used 2 cups of heavy cream and a stick of butter. I didn't have enough fresh basil leaves on my fledgling windowsill plant - so I used about 5 or 6 fresh leaves and supplemented with a couple of heaping tablespoons of dried basil. I mixed the cans of tomatoes together first in saucepan then poured into the blender and blitzed until very smooth. Pour back into saucepan and heat over a burner until the butter is melted and blended, add a heaping tablespoon of raw sugar, then transfer to a crockpot to relish all afternoon or evening!
Next, from Nigella Lawson's cookbook, How To Be a Domestic Goddess, her mother-in-law's Madeira Cake recipe. I added the zest of 2 lemons. Bake at 350 degrees...and in my convection oven 45 minutes was still a bit too long. Next time I'll take it out sooner...perhaps 35 to 40 minutes. It's moist and too scrumptious!
Enjoy! : D