Cream of Tomato Soup

Ingredients:
3 cups of chopped tomatoes
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 tsp. sugar
1 ½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. basil leaves
½ tsp. thyme leaves
1/8 tsp. pepper
6 oz. can tomato paste
¼ tsp. baking soda
1 T. margarine or butter
1 T. flour
2 cups milk
Directions: In medium saucepan, combine tomatoes, onion, sugar, salt, basil, thyme, pepper and tomato paste. Cover and simmer 10 min. Press mixture through strainer to make it smooth. Discard pulp. Stir in baking soda and set aside. In large saucepan melt butter. Stir in flour until well blended. Add milk all at once. Cook about 1 minute until thickened stirring constantly. Stir in tomato purée and cook until thoroughly heated. Do not boil!