A quick tomato soup to calm you as the holidays close in

In a holiday rush? This tasty tomato soup is made, in a flash, with ingredients most of us keep stocked in our pantries. Serve with a tossed green salad and toasted Swiss-cheese sandwiches. Dunking optional.

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)

1 teaspoon dried herbs, such as thyme, oregano, rosemary or basil

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)

2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes

1 cup water

2 teaspoons sugar

2 cups nonfat or low-fat milk

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, herbs and crushed red pepper (if using); cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, water and sugar. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in milk, heat through, about 1 minute.

Makes 6 1-1/2-cup servings.

-- "The Simple Art of Eating Well" by Jessie Price and the EatingWell Test Kitchen"

(Email Gretchen McKay at gmckay(at)post-gazette.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)