Creamy Tomato Balsamic Soup

Ingredients:

1 C beef broth (divided in halves)
1 Tbsp brown sugar
3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 C chopped onion
5 cloves garlic
2 (28oz) cans whole tomatoes, drained
3/4 C half & half
cracked black pepper (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Combine 1/2 cup of broth, sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce in a small bowl. Place onion, garlic, and tomatoes in a 13 x 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Pour broth mixture over tomato mixture. Bake at 500 degrees for 50 minutes or until vegetables are lightly browned.

Place tomato mixture in a blender. Add remaining 1/2 cup broth and half-and-half and process until smooth. Strain mixture through a sieve into a bowl; discard solids. Garnish with cracked black pepper if desired.