One more Soup Creamy Tomato Soup

This a really great tasty soup. Yum, good comfort food and easy to make.

Ingredients:
4 tbls. butter/margarine
1 large onion chopped
Either 2 lbs. diced fresh plum tomatoes or 3 large cans diced tomatoes drained
2 1/2 cups vegetable stock (can be made with bouillon cubes)
pinch of baking soda
2 cups dried pasta
1 tbsp. powdered sugar
1/4 pint heavy cream (optional)
salt and pepper

Directions:
Melt the butter in a saucepan and saute the onions. Then add the tomatoes with 1 1/4 cups stock and the baking soda. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Once cool puree in the blender and pour through a strainer back into the saucepan. Add the rest of the stock and the pasta and season to taste. Add the sugar and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 15 minutes or until pasta is tender but still firm. Pour into large bowls and swirl heavy cream (if using) around the surface. Serve with homemade croutons or grilled cheese sandwiches.