Muir Glen 2012 Reserve Fire Roasted Canned Tomatoes (Review & Giveaway)

Label from Can of 2012 Reserve Tomatoes

The kind folks at Muir Glen graciously sent me a surprise box that contained 2 cans of their special Muir Glen Organic 2012 Reserve Tomatoes - Halley Fire Roasted.  Also in the surprise box, was a really sturdy apron, wooden spoon and tongs by Jonathan's Wild Cherry Spoons, a natural fiber towel, some really nice California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and a recipe card.

Today, I'm trying the recipe (with my own tweaks) for the creamy tomato soup using these superb canned tomatoes. When I opened the tomatoes, I had to taste them just because they are so special from your regular run-of-the-mill canned tomatoes. These tomatoes were grown by Muir on specially allotted 13 acres  and are the Halley tomatoes. Muir grows a specialty tomato each year and this is the 2012 Reserve. A limited amount is grown and a limited amount is processed and sold.

I'm not a gourmet cook - just a Southern lady that has cooked a long time. I have had ripe, fresh tomatoes when in season to cook with and I've used the canned variety of  many brands.  Some have lots of flavor and some not so much. I found these 2012 Reserve tomatoes to be excellent in flavor and they tasted like really good tomatoes - a bit sweet and a bit acidic. Which is what I like in tomatoes.

I found the soup to be delicious. I got interrupted a couple of times in the process of making it and in the end the cream kind-of curdled a little. It did not obscure the delicious flavor of the soup, though. Now was it worth making my own soup with these Reserve 2012 tomatoes rather than purchase a premium canned tomato soup?  I'll say it was and I'll most likely do it again, and again.  Not only was it great tasting, but I KNOW WHAT IS IN IT.  How healthy can something get - fresh onion, herbs, tomatoes, olive oil, cream, and a touch of table sugar.  I was out of our organic sugar, or I would have used it.

I served the soup to my husband with a sprinkling of shredded sharp cheddar cheese atop. I topped mine with  seasoned croutons.  The soup was served in vintage soup bowls/plates that belonged to my mother. A treasure. Yummy!

Thank you Muir Glenn for some good stuff!

GIVEAWAY: I want to share one of the coupons they sent me for a free Muir Glen product with up to a $5.15 value with 1 of Chat With Vera's readers. Easy peasy this time. Begins May 25 & ENDS June 11 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT.
a Rafflecopter giveaway 
DISCLOSURE: I received a gift package of Muir Glenn 2012 Reserve Fire Roasted canned tomatoes, apron, towel, Jonathan's Spoons  wooden spoon and wooden folding salad fork, samples of California Olive Ranch oil, 2 product coupons, and recipe card. I was not asked to write a review. This was a pleasure to review.