La Madeleine's Tomato-Basil Soup

This recipe is so good. When I made it I cut it down by 1/4. This recipe is for a serving of 8. Now I don't usually like tomato soup, but this is so good. I didn't have fresh basil leaves, so I used just basil seasoning. And if you don't have heavy cream, you could use milk. DELICIOUS! (Sadie liked it too, which says a lot)

Ingredients:
4 cups tomatoes, peeled, cored and chopped, or canned whole tomatoes, crushed
4 cups tomato juice OR part tomato juice and part vegetable or chicken stock
14 washed fresh basil leaves
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 pound sweet, unsalted butterSalt to taste
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Directions:
Combine tomatoes, juice/and or stock in saucepan. Simmer 30 minutes. Puree, along with the basil leaves, in small batches, in blender, food processor (or better yet, one of those handy hand-held food blenders, right in the cooking pan). Return to saucepan and add cream and butter, while stirring, over low heat. Garnish with basil leaves and serve with your favorite bread. Optional: Sprinkle with cheese.