Creamy Tomato Soup

A very mild tomato soup that you can have on the table in 30 minutes.  Serve with grilled cheese, of course!  Slightly adapted from The Food Nanny.

1 cube butter, softned
1 c. flour
4-5 c. chicken broth
4 c. half and half
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1 1/2 c. marinara sauce
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, pureed
salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat.  Whisk in the flour and cook and stir for 5 minutes to slightly brown the mixture (it's sort of a dry, crumbly roux).  Whisk in 4 cups of chicken broth.  Increase the heat and cook and stir until thickened.  Decrease the heat to low, stir in the half and half and basil and simmer for 20 minutes. 

Stir in the marinara sauce and pureed tomatoes, and cook until heated through.  Add more chicken broth if the soup is too thick for your taste.  Season with salt and pepper before serving.  If you half the recipe, still use the whole can of diced tomatoes...it works great.  I added a little tomato paste from a squeeze tube for a little more tomato flavor.