Step 1

Add celery, carrots, onion and garlic to a food processor and pulse until finely minced (or mince by hand).

Step 2

Melt butter in oil in a large Dutch oven/soup pot over medium heat. Turn heat to medium high, add minced vegetables and sauté for 4 minutes. Sprinkle in flour and continue to cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Step 3

Gradually whisk in chicken broth followed by tomatoes and all seasonings. Add bay leaf. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until carrots are tender.

Step 4

Add Parmesan cheese and whisk to blend. Stir in milk/half and half/cream and gently simmer an additional 15-20 minutes on low, stirring occasionally. Stir in additional chicken broth or cream to reach desired consistency. Remove bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 5

You can serve the soup as is if you like the texture or proceed to puree with an immersion blender or working in batches, transfer soup to blender and puree until smooth, being careful to let smoke escape or it will explode. ***Using a blender will give you a MUCH smoother, creamier soup.*** Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional).