Peasant Tomato Soup

Ingredients

• 1/4 pound carrots (2 medium size), trimmed, scraped and cut in 2-inch pieces
• 1/4 pound yellow onion (1 small or 1/2 large), peeled and quartered
• 1/4 pound fennel bulb, trimmed and pared with a potato peeler
• 3 medium-size cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 pound canned tomatoes with thick puree
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Fresh basil, washed and shredded, to taste