Tomato Bacon Bisque

Instructions

1. Heat a soup pot over medium heat and add the bacon. Cook until crisp, about 10 minutes, and remove to a paper towel lined plate, keeping all of the grease in the pot.

2. Add in the tablespoon of butter, let it melt, and then add in the chopped onion and celery. Cook until the onions become translucent and tender, about 5 minutes.

3. Add in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes or until the butter, grease, flour, onions, and celery all stick and thicken together.

4. Add in the canned tomatoes, chicken stock, sugar, a bit of pepper, and the bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil, scraping the bottom of the pot often so that the flour doesn't burn. Reduce the mixture to a simmer and continue to cook for 30 minutes. Again, stir and scrape every few minutes in order to prevent the bottom from burning.