Creamy Tomato Soup Without The Cream

• 4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped medium (about 1 cup)
• 3 medium garlic cloves, minced (or pressed through garlic press, about 1 tablespoon.)
• 1 pinch hot red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 (28 ounce) cans whole tomatoes (packed in tomatoe juice)
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 3 large slice good-quality whole wheat bread, crusts removed, torn into 1-inch pieces
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth (fat free)
• 2 tablespoons brandy (optional)
• salt & fresh ground pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

1. Spray Dutch oven with cooking spray and heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium heat until shimmering.
2. Add onion, garlic, red pepper flakes (if using), and bay leaf.
3. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Stir in tomatoes and their juice.
5. Using potato masher, mash until no pieces bigger than 2 inches remain.
6. Stir in sugar and bread; bring soup to boil.
7. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until bread is completely saturated and starts to break down, about 5 minutes.
8. Remove and discard bay leaf.
9. Transfer half of soup to blender. (If half of the soup fills your blender by more than two-thirds, process the soup in three batches. You can also use an immersion blender to process the soup directly in the pot.).
10. Add 1 teaspoon oil and process until soup is smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes.
11. Transfer to large bowl and repeat with remaining soup and oil.
12. (For an even smoother soup, pass the pureed mixture through a fine-mesh strainer before stirring in the chicken broth.).
13. Rinse out Dutch oven and return soup to pot and heat to a simmer.
14. Stir in chicken broth and brandy (if using) and bring to a simmer.
15. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
16. Serve soup in individual bowls.
17. Sprinkle each portion with pepper and chives.

extra virgin olive oil, onion, garlic, hot red pepper, bay leaf, tomatoes, brown sugar, whole wheat bread, chicken broth, brandy, salt, fresh chives

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/creamy-tomato-soup-without-the-cream-426386 (may not work)