Creamy Tomato Basil Soup with Sausage

From Favorite Family Recipes

Ingredients

• 1/2 c. sifted flour 
• 1/2 c. butter
• 4 c. chicken broth (1 large carton)
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp basil
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 2 c. half and half
• 1 lb. turkey or regular Italian sausage

Instructions

• Brown sausage. Set aside.
• Combine the butter and flour in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Gradually add the chicken broth letting the mixture thicken as you add more.
• In a blender add the two cans of tomatoes (don't drain) and the basil and oregano. Pulse it just a few times (you don't want the tomatoes totally blended). Add this tomato mixture to the sauce pan. Now let it all simmer over medium heat for about 15 min.
• Turn the heat on the soup to low. Add the 1/2 and 1/2 and sausage and let it cook on low for about 5 more min, stirring occasionally. 

Notes From Jill's Kitchen: This one was a smashing success, with one exception- I really probably should have gotten way more grease off of the sausage before putting it in the soup. Grease galore, folks, but OH THE FLAVOR. Yes, I loved it.

Update, February 2014: I tried it with turkey Italian sausage this time and it was just as good. Even better, dare I say, since it SIGNIFICANTLY cut down on the grease, but was still crazy flavorful. I am changing the ingredients list thusly because I will never go back. Never!