Vermicelli Soup with Tomato & Basil

This is very simple, quick and memorable when it’s properly cooked. It really is my crisis-saver. If you use vegetable or chicken broth, your soup will have a stronger taste — but with just plain water like this, it is quick and beautiful and means you can present a meal in no time. Serve this immediately or the pasta just swells in the soup. If you’re not feeling fantastic, or are down in the dumps with a bit of a cold, this is the thing to lift your spirits.