Fire Roasted Tomato Soup

3 tablespoons butter
1 yellow onion diced
2 14.5-ounces each cans diced tomatoes
2 14.5-ounces each cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup cream or half-and-half
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot or dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat and then add the diced onion. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep it from burning.
While that cooks, open three of the cans of tomatoes and drain the juice into a bowl (don't discard it!).
When the onions are soft, add the three cans of drained tomatoes, the bay leaf and the brown sugar. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring every minute or two, until the excess juice has mainly cooked off and the tomatoes are sizzling.
Stir in the tomato paste and flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about two minutes, then slowly add the tomato liquid, the broth, the last can of tomatoes, the baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat, discard the bay leaf and blend the soup (either in a blender - be careful! or with an immersion blender). I've done it totally smooth and also more chunky and I strongly prefer it a little bit chunky. Stir in the half-and-half, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
Serve immediately, preferably with grilled cheese sandwiches.


Recipe from everydayreading.com