The cold, rainy day yesterday made us crave something hot and comforting so I decided to try out Joanna Gaines’ recipe for Tomato-Basil Soup with Grilled Cheese Strips from her Magnolia Table cookbook. Not only did this hit the spot (with us going back for seconds and almost thirds!), but it was fast and flavor-packed.

I don’t typically reach for Havarti for my grilled cheese sandwiches, but it actually complemented the cheddar really well. Also, since I’ve been switching to a more gluten-free lifestyle lately, I was really hesitant about the white bread offerings. I was pleasantly surprised at how well my grilled cheese sticks turned out using Schär Gluten Free White Bread. The Mr, the biggest critic of them all, said how much he was blown-away with how the grilled cheese turned out with the gluten free bread.

The recipe calls for the use of (4) 15oz cans of fire-roasted diced tomatoes. Sure you could use fresh tomatoes and roast them yourself, but this step made this recipe a good, quick weeknight meal! Since it’s a soup you eventually purée, you could also sneak in some roasted red bell pepper and/or softened carrots into the pot before puréeing to sneak in more vegetables and vitamins to your family without sacrificing flavor!

This dish is also featured on their menu at the Gaines’ restaurant of the same name in Waco, TX. If you’re in the area, you should pop in for a weekday lunch where crowds are slimmer and see what else they have to offer. More information can be found here.

Tell me some of your favorite healthy and fast weeknight meals!