From my kitchen | Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Confession: I have some unhealthy addictions and one of those is Panera’s broccoli cheddar soup ;/ The worse part is that my daughter is also addicted to this creamy, cheesy soup . But  let’s be honest the soup is  perfect for fall, cold, rainy days when all you want to do is curl up on the couch with a blanket and a good movie.  I decided to create my own following the same pattern of a pumpkin soup that my Mom used to make. And here it is.

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups chicken stock or  bouillon cubes + boiling water
• 1/2 lb fresh broccoli, chopped
• 1 cup carrot, shredded and chopped
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste(be careful with the salt)
  

Sauté the onion (and garlic) in the butter over medium heat. Remove the onions (you can actually leave the onions in there) and add in the flour, stirring constantly. Add in the half and half, milk, and chicken stock. Bring to almost a boil.

Add the onions back in, along with the broccoli and carrots. Simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes.

Season the soup with the salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir in the cheeses (and you can play around with the amounts; use however much or little you like) and let simmer for 10 minutes longer before serving.

Now I just need to learn how to do the bread bowl ;P

Sopa de brócoli y Queso Cheddar

• 1 / 4 taza de mantequilla
• 1 / 2 cebolla picada
• 1 diente de ajo
• 1 / 4 taza de harina
• 1 taza de leche
• 2 tazas de caldo de pollo  o 1 cubito de caldo + agua hirviendo
• 1 / 2 libra de brócoli fresco, picado
• 1 taza de zanahoria, rallada y picada
• 1 / 4 cucharadita de nuez moscada
• 8 onzas de queso cheddar rallado fuerte
• 4 oz  de Queso Crema
• Sal y pimienta al gusto

Saltee la cebolla (y ajo) en la mantequilla a fuego medio.  Retire la cebolla (en realidad se puede dejar la cebolla en ese paso) y añadir la harina, revolviendo constantemente. Añadir  la leche de la mitad, y el caldo de pollo . Llevar a casi un hervor.

Agregue las cebollas de nuevo, junto con el brócoli y las zanahorias. Cocine a fuego lento durante unos 20 minutos.

Sasone de la sopa con sal, pimienta, y nuez moscada.  Agregue el queso (juegue  con las cantidad que desea) y cocine a fuego lento durante 10 minutos más antes de servir.