{Copycat} Zupas Tomato Basil Soup

Holy cow, it was freaking delicious and really tasted like Zupas! It was wonderful. Especially for a Halloween party. My mom actually made it and I was super duper proud of her. I halved the original recipe here because it made a ton!

Photo Credit to It's the Life

{Cafe Zupas} Tomato Basil Soup

Pesto:

1 cup {or 2 oz} container of basil, washed and dried
1/2 cup slivered almonds

1/2 cup parmesan cheese
2.5 cloves of garlic

3/4 cup olive oil

1 tsp salt
Remainder of soup:
1 medium onion, diced

3-4 stalks of celery, diced

3 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 quarts bottled tomatoes

small amount of sugar

1 teaspoon salt, optional

1 pint heavy cream

Add pesto ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend together into a delicious beautiful pesto. Set this aside for now.

Saute butter, onions, celery, and oregano in saucepan. 

Place that mixture in a slow cooker with the pesto mixture and the tomatoes, sugar and salt {if you chose to use}. It will look green with tomatoes, but that just means its going to taste awesome. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. {You can cook in a pressure cooker for 4 minutes…hello time saver…but I don't have one}. At the end, your soup with be orangish-red like the stuff at Zupas.

Once your soup has finished cooking, add 1 quart of heavy cream, stir and eat.

Recipe Source: Slightly adapted from It's the Life