Adventures of Heidi the Happy Homemaker: Cheesy broccoli carrot soup

Cheesy broccoli and carrot soup

Today was cloudy, overcast and chilly! So, I thought that it was a perfect day to make some soup for dinner!

Broccoli cheese soup

Ingredients
- 1 whole onion, diced
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
- 1/3 cup flour
- 4 cups whole milk (I used 2%)
- 2 cups half and half (1 pint)
- 4 heads of broccoli cut into florets
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 3 cups grated cheese
- small dash of salt (more if needed)
- black peper
- chicken broth if needed for thinning

Preparation Instructions

Melt butter in a pot over medium heat, then add the onions. Cook the onions for 3 to 4 minutes, then sprinkle the flour over the top. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute or so, then pour in milk and half-and-half. Add nutmeg, then add broccoli, a small dash of salt, and plenty of black pepper.
Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender. Stir in cheese and allow to melt.
Taste seasonings and adjust if needed. Then either serve as is, or mash it with a potato masher to break up the broccoli a bit, or transfer to a blender in two batches and puree completely. (If you puree it in a blender, return it to the heat and allow to heat up. Splash in chicken broth if needed for thinning.)

the ingredients

The heads of broccoli were so pretty, I just had to take a picture!

My kitchen helper, Shianne, and her favorite veggie, broccoli

I hate chopping onions! It always makes me cry and my eyes burn! Well, I have learned a trick. I put lemon juice on the onion while I am cutting it and voila, no tears! Also, I saw another trick online and that is to have a candle burning, while you are cutting it. So, tonight I did both the lemon juice and the candle! Worked like a charm!

I added carrots to this recipe. I just eye balled it and put in how many I wanted until it looked good! This is after the onions and carrots had cooked in the butter and you pour the flour on top.