Creamy Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 small sweet onion chopped
• 1 stalk celery chopped
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 28 ounces crushed tomatoes undrained
• 1 10 3/4 ounce can tomato puree
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon cilantro
• 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
• 8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese cut into cubes
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• salt as needed to taste
• 1 -2 slice bacon cooked and crumbled for garnish

Steps:

• In a large soup pot
• over medium heat
• melt butter; add onion
• celery
• and saute in butter until softened about 5 minutes Add tomatoes un-drained
• basil and cilantro; bring to a boil Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are soft
• At this point puree or partially puree
• if desired
• or dont puree at all
• Add broth and cream cheese and pepper; salt to taste; heat through
• Serve with crumbled bacon on top if desired