Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

This soup kind of reminds me of the "Fire Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup" that you get at Paradise Bakery and Cafe. I guess it's more of an Italian flavor with the basil, but I thought it tasted kind of similar. Anyway, we love this one!

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

2 cups chopped onions
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. basil
3/4 cup butter, divided
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cans (1 lb. 15 oz.) Italian tomatoes
4 Tbsp. tomato paste
4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup flour
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. sugar
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot saute onions, thyme, basil in 1/2 cup butter and olive oil until onion wilts. Add tomatoes and paste, simmer for 10 minutes. In a separate bowl, mix 5 Tbsp. broth to flour until smooth. Stir in flour mixture to soup. Add remaining broth and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Put soup through blender, food processor or hand blender. (Hand blender works great) (Soup can be prepared ahead of time up to this point.) Just before serving, add sugar, cream and 1/4 cup butter, salt and pepper to taste. Yields 8-10- cups