Cream of Tomato Soup

1/4 cup olive oil (I use about half that)
2 medium onions, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 rib celery, finely sliced (I leave this out as I don't typically have celery and don't want to buy a huge bunch for one rib)
2 28oz. cans diced tomatoes
1 T tomato paste
1 T sugar
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 T dried basil
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup heavy cream (I use about 1/3 this amount)
Parmesan cheese

Heat olive oil in large stock pot and add onions, garlic and celery. Cover and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Uncover and cook another 5 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste and sugar and cook 5 minutes. Add broth and seasonings and cook 10 minutes. Puree soup in a blender or with a hand held submersible blender. (If you use a blender, only fill it about half-way. The hot liquid will expand and explode out the top if the blender is too full.) Add cream and heat through. Serve with Parmesan cheese.