Broccoli Cheese Soup

A two month lapse?  Inexcusable.  I won't make excuses to those of you who don't read my blog and haven't noticed.  LOL  Life's been busy.  As I said earlier, I created this blog to give my girls (especially the two who live out of the house and will both be married this year) some good, basic, EASY (and usually CHEAP) recipes to start them off with.

It's winter and I've been cold since November.  I'm craving creamy, rich comfort foods.  Last week daughter #2 brought me broccoli cheese soup in a bread bowl from Panera.  I'm 46 and I have to admit that this was my first bread bowl.  No, I'm not one of those people who goes to Pismo and has to go to Splash Cafe for a clam chowder (yuck) bread bowl.  And, being on a diet, creamy soups in bread bowls aren't very friendly for the scale, but it was yummy anyway.  My version of the soup was almost as good as Panera's, a whole lot cheaper, and ready in about 20 minutes.

Frozen broccoli (3-4 cups)
Grated cheddar cheese (1/2 cup)
Milk (1 cup)
Butter (2 Tbsp)
Flour (2 Tbsp)

Steam broccoli in small amount of water in microwave or on stove.  Set aside and chop finely.  In medium size pan, melt butter over medium high heat, stirring constantly.  Add flour and continue to stir, making a roux ("roo"...because I know my girls would find a way to pronounce the "X"!).  Add milk slowly and continue to stir.  Turn heat down to medium and add broccoli, stirring often so soup does not scorch.  If you prefer soup more smooth, use a Braun immersion mixer to cream.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cheers~
Cheryl