Pappa al Pomodoro (Stale Bread & Tomato Soup)

This is a Tuscani style soup which instead of serving with cheese on top 

it is customary to drizzle with olive oil.

Ingredients
1/2 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Plus 1/4c for serving
4 cloves Garlic chopped
1 Lg Sweet Onion halved and sliced vertically
1/2 of 1Lb loaf Day old crusty style Italian bread, sliced thick and torn into large bite sized pieces
2 28oz cans Tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup Fresh Basil leaves
1/2 tsp salt
pinch Red Pepper

Cook
In a large pot heat onion in oil over medium heat till tender
Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute
Add tomatoes (with liquid), salt and red pepper
Simmer loosely covered over med heat for about a half hour until tender
Add bread pieces stirring until fully incorporated (about 2-3 minutes)
tear up basil leaves and stir in, reserving a few leaves for garnish
Season to taste with salt and pepper

Serve
To serve drizzle a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil over each bowl and garnish with a basil leaf or two

If making soup ahead of time, don't add the bread until soup is hot, then add bread till incorporated. Then serve as directed above