Recipe one: tomato soup, the pink kind

A pink bowl of tomato soup with a swirl of cream, thyme, and buttered toast torn by hand

Tomato soup, the pink kind. With toast you tear by hand.

Butter in a pot, soft golden onion, ten slow minutes. Garlic, one minute, don't burn it. Crushed tomatoes (San Marzano if you can name them), stock, a pinch of sugar, basil. Simmer ten. Blend till soft, but leave a few rustic bits.

Off the heat, stir in cream till the whole pot goes soft pink. Warm the bowls first with hot water, pour it out, then ladle. Tear thick buttered toast by hand while the bowl is still steaming.

This is the soup I'd make for someone I'm waiting on. It keeps. It forgives. It's better with company.