Portland’s Elephants Delicatessen makes a wonderful tomato-orange soup. When the local daily paper published the recipe, I decided to lighten it up by using less butter and cream. My version isn’t as rich, but it’s still very good; it’s even good without any milk or cream.

Steps

1. Melt the butter in a stockpot or large saucepan; add onions and sauté over medium heat until they begin to soften. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, baking soda, and thyme. Bring to a boil, lower heat to a simmer, and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
2. Purée with an immersion blender or in a food processor or blender. (If using a blender, avoid burning yourself by only filling up the container halfway before blending.) If desired, strain soup through a sieve.
3. Return soup to pot and stir in orange juice and milk or half-and-half. Bring to a simmer and taste for seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, and milk or half-and-half to your liking. Serve hot.