Thick Tomato Soup

  • 3 lb (1.25kg) ripe tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon chopped basil
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 pint (568 ml) vegetable stock
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of sherry (optional)

Skin and de-seed the tomatoes. Gently simmer tomatoes with sugar and basil in the stock for 15 minutes. Cool.