Cheesy Broccoli Soup: Part of a Well-Balanced Wardrobe

 this weekend my mom and I hosted a baby shower for my expecting my sister-in-law. it was so much fun and I will post pics of the day later...I still can't believe I am going to be an auntie! by the time my husband Bryce and I got to Boston this afternoon, I had only one thing on the brain....a yummy, wholesome, warm dinner! have you guys heard of a site called Pinterest? one word: amazing. 'nough said. alas, the recipe....I adapted this from a soup that I found on Pinterest and with a couple tweaks, it executed beautifully.

 cheesy broccoli soup

serves 6-8 bowls

ingredients:

2-4 tbsp butter and a dash of e.v.o.

1 cup chopped onions

1 1/2  - 2 cups of finely chopped carrot

1 cup celery (although I wasn't exact on this) finely chopped

1 1/2 -2 tbsp minced garlic

8 cups chicken broth (low sodium if possible)

3-4 large potatoes, peeled and chopped

2 tbsp flour

1 cup water

several shakes of chicken bouillon powder (to your taste, but this does add a nice kick of flavor)

salt and pepper to taste

1 1/3 cup milk

3-4 cups of chopped broccoli (again I didn't measure perfectly)

3-4 cups of shredded cheddar

 directions:

melt the butter with the e.v.o in a soup pot. add the onions, carrot, and celery and saute over medium heat until soft. add garlic, cook a couple more min. give a healthy shake of the bullion powder, pepper, and salt, stir. add chicken broth and potatoes, bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender. whisk together flour and water, add into the soup mixture and stir. let simmer until the whole pot thickens. add more bouillon powder if it still needs a little love. add the milk and broccoli. simmer. when broccoli is soft, add the shredded cheese. stir until cheese is melted. if you have time, let the soup sit over low heat for awhile giving the flavors time to marry. if you are in a hurry - pour into a bowl and serve with a hearty baguette....

here is Bryce inhaling it and I did too. thankfully we have plenty of leftovers for the week ahead.

remember - a good recipe always creates a well-balanced wardrobe.

xoxo

kiki