Smoked Red Pepper Soup

Name: Smoked Red Pepper Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 red bell peppers (cut into chunks, seeds and stem removed); 3 Roma tomatoes (cut in half, squeeze some juice and seeds out); 2 carrots (peeled and cut into chunks); 1 onion (peeled and cut into chunks); 6 to 8 cloves garlic; olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes; 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth; 1 pint half and half; 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning); 1 tablespoon sugar; Optional toppings: goat cheese crumbles, toasted bread or crostini, croutons or crackers, and fresh thyme