Broccoli Cheese Soup

Broccoli Cheese Soup 

Ingredients:

    2 c. chicken broth
    1/2 cup diced carrots
    1 small onion (or half a large)
    1/8 c. diced celery
    1 bay leaf
    1 tsp. salt (if you use a very salty chicken broth cut back on the amount of salt you add)
    1/2 tsp. pepper
    1/8 tsp. garlic powder
    1/3 tsp. all spice
    1/8 tsp. basil
    1/8 tsp. cayenne
    1 broccoli crown, chopped or 16 oz. frozen chopped broccoli
    3 Tbsp. butter
    3 Tbsp. flour
    2 cups half & half
    1/2 c. sharp cheddar

Broccoli Cheese Soup 

Directions:

1. Put the chicken broth in a cooking pot. Finely dice the carrots, onion and celery then add to the chicken broth.

2. Add the bay leaf, salt, pepper, garlic powder, allspice and basil and simmer for about 15-20 minutes. After simmering remove the bay leaf.

3. Place the broccoli pieces in a food processor and pulse until it is in small pieces. Add broccoli to the chicken stock and simmer an additional 20 minutes.

4. In a sauce pan, melt the butter. Add in the flour and stir constantly, making a roux. Incorporate into the soup by first adding  a bit of broth to the roux, stir, then add more broth, stir, etc. Once it is well combined you can combine all the roux and broth mixture together in the pot.

5. Add the half and half. If you want to use a hand immersion blender to puree the soup to make it smoother, do so now. After, add the cheddar and heat over low heat.

6. Serve and enjoy it