Allison and Robyn eat this soup while pinching their noses but the rest of us gobble it down.  Especially if there is homemade bread or a warm toasted cheese sandwich - nothing tastes better on a cold rainy day.  Jeremy and I used to go for a cheap date to a local restaurant and order their tomato soup and eat their free bread basket.  One of the best meals around.


4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) butter
2 onions, chopped into thin slices and then quartered
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (28 oz) can pureed tomatoes
2 Tbsp light brown sugar
1 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp flour
1 3/4 c chicken broth
1/2 c whipping cream
salt and pepper
cayenne pepper

1. Melt the butter in a large soup pot.  Add the chopped onions and cook over medium high heat until the onions are a dark golden color, about 10 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and brown sugar and cook for 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add the broth and cook until bubbling.
5. Reduce heat to low and bring to a simmer.  Stir in cream, salt and pepper and cayenne pepper.  I season to taste which is usually a half teaspoon of each spice.

Serves 10 or 8 generously