Saturday, May 25, 2013

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.

12 comments:

  1. I use canned tomatoes in spaghetti sauce.
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  2. a favorite recipe - Autumn Soup - ground beef, broth, carrots, onions, potatoes, canned tomatoes, bay leaf - simmer 1 hour then season to taste

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  3. I use the Muir Glen canned tomato paste for pasta sauce. Put olive oil in a pan, add garlic and then add the paste and let simmer. Throw in left over veggies from fridge and random fresh herbs for garden. Add to the pasta. The tomato flavor seems to soak into the noodles better than the sauce does. Learned this from an Italian friend.

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  4. I do like to use different types of canned tomatoes in soups that I make. I make cauliflower soup, minestrone (with vegetables and beans) and I also use canned tomatoes in chili recipes.
    twinkle at optonline dot net

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  5. I think the Muir Glen canned tomatoes would be delicious with a little herb-flavored olive oil over cheese stuffed tortellini.

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  6. Our entire family's favorite meal is cube steak in the crock pot. Now, BEFORE YOU MAKE A FACE AT CUBE STEAK, the inedible meat, hear me out. This is super tender & DELICIOUS.

    Brown tenderized, beef cube steaks in 3 T of oil on each side about 3 mins. Layer bottom of crock pot with a few slices of onions. (this will keep the meat from sticking at the start) Add 3 pieces of your cube steak, then more onion slices, then green pepper slices. Continue in this manner until you are out of these ingredients. Pour one can of tomatoes over (doesn't matter what kind: crushed, diced, stewed, whole, they all work). Then add 2 jars of Heinz brown gravy. Cook on low 8-10 hours. We serve it (& everything else!) with mashed potatoes & corn bread twists.

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  7. i like to use them in soups or in crock pots. i don't use them often but i would love to try new recipes ;)

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  8. Homemade tomato and basil or ravioli and vegetable soups! jessicapeeling@yahoo.com

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  9. I love this brand! I have been using these tomatoes in EVERYTHING for quite some time!

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  10. sauces mostly used to make homemade sauce for lasagna

    sibabe64 at ptd dot net

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  11. I love to mix them into lentil soup or chili - yum!

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  12. I usually use in chili or add to a homemade spaghetti sauce. There's a shrimp tortilla soup recipe I've blogged about that is great with a can of diced tomatoes.

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