Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  2              large  onions -- finely sliced
  4                     bacon strips -- cooked
                        crisp and crumbled
  1 1/2    tablespoons  butter
  6                     red ripe jersey tomatoes
                        peeled -- cored and chopped
  2        tablespoons  tomato paste
  3                     lemon rind strips
  4               cups  chicken stock
  1           teaspoon  sugar
     1/2      teaspoon  thyme -- (dried)
  1           teaspoon  basil -- (dried)
                        salt and pepper to taste
                        croutons for garnish
                        fresh basil sprigs
                        for garnish

Preparation:

Saute onions in butter about 5 minutes until tender and golden. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, lemon rind, chicken stock, bacon and herbs. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer until tomatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove lemon rind. Cool soup, then puree in blender. Strain puree. Reheat before serving. Garnish with croutons and basil sprigs.

Nutritional Information:

86 Calories (kcal); 5g Total Fat; (58% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 6g Carbohydrate; 11mg Cholesterol; 1572mg Sodium