Tomato, Orange Basil Soup

[Surprise]

2-28 oz cans Italian Tomatoes with juice chopped.
32 oz Chicken stock, homemade is richer
6-8 oz orange juice
2- medium carrots chopped
1 1/4 cups chopped yellow onion
2-3 cloves garlic chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2- teaspoons dried basil
salt and pepper to taste

grated orange zest, minced fresh basil to garnish

heat oil in 4 qt pan, add carrots, onion and garlic, cook over medium heat stirring until softened.

add tomatoes, stock and orange juice. Bring up to simmer.

cook for twenty minutes or so. Then blend in batches until smooth. I use a Electric Hand blender in the pan. You can buy one at Kinney Drugs for under 20 bucks. They are invaluable and just rinse off to clean.

Add dried basil and season to taste. Simmer for about 15 minutes more.

Heat to serve, Garnish with Orange zest and Basil

This was a big hit at Christmas Eve Dinner last Year.