Spicy Tomato Bisque

• 4 quarts fresh tomatoes, chopped
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 piece bacon
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 5 tablespoons flour
• 2 onions, chopped
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 banana peppers, chopped
• 8 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
• 6 sprigs thyme, tied together
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 - 1 tablespoon salt (to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup 2% low-fat milk
• 1 cup whipping cream

1. Combine tomatoes and broth; bring to a boil and reduce to simmer.
2. In the meantime, fry bacon until crisp, remove and reserve.
3. Add olive oil, onions, celery, peppers and carrots to pan and saute until tender; add garlic and saute 2 minutes; add flour and cook 3 minutes, then puree mixture and add 3 cups of tomato mixture and puree until smooth.
4. Incorporate 1 ladle of puree into tomato mixture at a time, add bacon, then puree entire soup.
5. Add basil, thyme, and bay leaves and simmer 30 minutes, then remove bay leaf and thyme. Add milk and cream and season to taste.
6. Use Tony Chacheres instead of salt if you like things spicy.

fresh tomatoes, chicken broth, bacon, olive oil, flour, onions, stalks celery, carrots, banana peppers, garlic, fresh basil, thyme, bay leaves, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, milk, whipping cream

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/spicy-tomato-bisque-384531 (may not work)