Tomato Soup (Cream of) V

Ingredients

5 tablespoons butter

½ cup onion, chopped

4 tablespoons flour

4 cups milk

1 bay leaf

1 ½ teaspoons sugar

1 ½ teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon baking soda

3 cups tomatoes, chopped (fresh or canned)

In a Dutch oven, melt butter and sauté onion.  Add flower to the mixture, stirring all the time, until slightly browned.  Gradually add the milk, bay leaf, sugar and salt.  Cook until slightly thickened.  Stir the baking soda into the tomatoes then add to Dutch oven and bring to a simmer.  Run through a sieve, discard solids and reheat.  

Serves 4