Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
     1/2           cup  butter -- 1/2 stick
  4             medium  carrot -- chopped
     3/4           cup  onion -- chopped
     3/4           cup  leek -- chopped
  2             cloves  garlic -- chopped
     1/2      teaspoon  thyme -- fresh chopped
     1/4      teaspoon  fennel seed
  5               cups  nonfat chicken broth
                        additional chopped fresh thyme

Preparation:

Melt 1/4 cup butter. Add carrots, onion, leek, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon thyme and fennel seeds; stir to coat. Cover, cook until onion is translucent stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Add 5 cups broth. Simmer; Cover partially; simmer until carrots are very tender, about 40 minutes. Cool slightly. Process in batches. Thin to desired consistency with more broth. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead.

Nutritional Information:

280 Calories (kcal); 23g Total Fat; (63% calories from fat); 15g Protein; 15g Carbohydrate; 62mg Cholesterol; 888mg Sodium