The Many Faces of Soup II

Children are known for many things like being cute, throwing fits and loving macaroni and cheese. Many are not known, however, to love to eat broccoli (unless it is drenched in cheese or ranch dressing.) Many adults don't even enjoy broccoli. I think this is a shame. Broccoli is one of my favorite things to eat. Roasted with olive oil and garlic, or finely chopped with pasta, or even in soup, broccoli is delicious. The afore mentioned soup is what we are going to be talking about today. Yes, you read that right, i am blogging about Broccoli Cheddar Soup! Even if you are one that rejects broccoli's beautiful flavor, try this soup. Just try giving broccoli a chance.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

4 TBS of EVOO
1 med. onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic finely diced

3 TBS of butter
1/2 of flour

3 cups of half-and-half
1 cup of milk
2 cups of chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg

1/4 tsp of cayenne
112 oz of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 lbs of broccoli (chopped into bite size pieces)

2 cups of carrots, coarsely grated

Salt and pepper to taste

Heat 1 TBS of EVOO in a large pot over medium/medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic and salt&pepper to taste and saute for 6-7 mins. Remove onions and set in a small bowl. In the same pot add the rest of the EVOO and butter. Once as the butter has melted add the flour and whisk. (It will be really thick.) Cook for 3 mins over medium heat. Slowly whisk in the half&half, milk and the chicken stock. Bring to a bubble and cook for 10 minutes. Next, I add the reserved cooked onions, nutmeg and cayenne then blend (I don't like pieces of onion in my soup, but blending is optional. You could also blend after you add the broccoli and carrots added is you like a smooth soup). Next add in cheddar cheese in small handfuls and stir until completely melted in. After all the cheese is incorporated, add the broccoli and carrots. (Make sure that you dry off the broccoli after you wash it really well. Any water clinging to the broccoli will thin out the soup). Add more salt and pepper to taste. Bubble away on medium high heat until the broccoli is al dente, then serve! I like to eat this with a nice chunk of bread, but the choice is yours. Enjoy!