Winter Tomato Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon basil
salt and pepper
2 lbs Italian tomatoes (canned)
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3 3/4 cups chicken broth, divided
4 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 cup cream (heavy or half and half)

Preparation

In a saucepan melt butter and add olive oil, onion, thyme, basil and salt and pepper.
Cook, stirring, until onions wilt.
Add tomatoes and tomato paste.
Simmer 20 minutes.
Blend together 5 T of the chicken broth with the flour.
Add this to the soup, stir, then add rest of broth.
Simmer 30 minutes, stirring often to prevent burning.
Puree soup in blender.
Return to heat.
Add sugar and cream.
Simmer 5 more minutes.