Creamless Creamy Tomato Soup(Cook'S Illustrated) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
3 medium garlic cloves, minced-pressed
1 pinch hot red pepper flakes
1 bay leaf
2 (28 ounce) cans whole tomatoes with juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 large slice good-quality white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1-inch pieces
2 cups chicken broth or 2 cups vegetable broth
2 tablespoons brandy (optional)
salt and pepper
1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped

Preparation

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, and bay leaf. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir in tomatoes and their juice. Using a potato masher, mash until no pieces bigger than 2 inches remain. Stir in sugar and bread; bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until bread is completely saturated and starts to break down, about 5 minutes. Remove bay leaf and discard.
Transfer half of soup to a blender, add 1tablespoon olive oil and process until soup is smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Be extra careful when putting hot liquids in the blender. Never fill past 2/3 of the way full, and put a dish towel over the top just in case to protect your hands from getting burned by any hot liquid splashing up. Transfer to a large bowl and repeat with remaining soup and oil.
Rinse out Dutch oven and return soup to pot. Stir in chicken broth and brandy. Return soup to a boil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle each portion with pepper and chives and drizzle with olive oil. Serve (of course) with grilled cheese sandwiches.