Cheesy Broccoli Soup

 
      Kids are picky. So are adults. Especially when it comes to veggies. And really, there's only one true way to get anyone to eat it. Douse it in cheese. Cheese and butter fix EVERYTHING. So lucky you, here's my Broccoli Cheese Soup, guaranteed to get even the stubbornest of children to devour their veggies and then say “can I have more?” 

      First, the culprits:

 See these yummy veggies? See how healthy looking they are? These are the dastardly villians that you need to hide from your picky kids/friend/sibling/significant other. Don't worry, I have your back!

Meet your heroes! Cheese, milk, and butter! I got cheddar and havarti. Really any soft, white cheese with a high fat content will do. Fat. That's the stuff that kids love. It's also the stuff that will make people forget they're even eating carrots and broccoli. You'll see!

And of course you need your sidekicks! These little guys pack a big punch (And hide any veggie flavors you might have thrown in!). As a note, the original recipe calls for Cayenne Pepper. I'm not sure if there are other colors, but having made this soup before and using the 1/8 tsp, it was WAY too spicy. I used only 1/4 tsp. But maybe you like your sidekick to be extra kicky!

And now for your directions. Don't worry, this soup is one of the easiest ones to make! If you've never made a Rue before its okay--I have pictures!  Step one is the MOST IMPORTANT STEP. Ready? Okay. First, pour yourself a drink, because cooking is hard work! 

This drink is also from Trader Joes (hey, guess where I normally shop!). Its a super fun bubbly Amusant Pink Moscato. The bubbles will make you feel bubbly too! 

Now chop the onions, garlic, and broccoli. Just nip the heads off with as little stem as possible.

Just nip off as much of the stem as you can. Don't chop the heads up, they fall part while cooking.

Grate the carrots by hand if you're a masochist like me and don't like how the thick pre-shredded carrots taste.

 Phew! We did it! All that arm exersize was a lot of work! And you need a breather before moving on to the next part! WINE BREAK!

 

Okay, while you pour yourself another glass for later, lets get these veggies under control!  

Throw in all your chopped up stuff, bay leaves,  and give it a little toss! Pour the entire content of the chicken broth in as well. Cover on medium heat and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. 

Veggies are steamed! Now make the Rue! First, Melt your butter.

Then add a tablespoon of flower and whisk. Repeat.

This is how a Rue should look. If you leave it alone it'll turn gelatin like.

Pour the broth from your veggies into the Rue mix. It's ok if there's some veggies in it!

Pour the now thickened broth into your veggies. Mmm...smells good already!

Now add your cream and spices. On low heat warm the soup back up. give the sidekicks time to add the kick!

Now that the soup is hot, add the cheeses and let their delicious flavor disguise the carrots and brocoli. Those are some yummy super heros! ;) 

  Aaaaaaaaaaaand you're done! You can serve it to your probably now starving partner and reap the rewards of knowing your giving them veggies in disguise! Also, enjoy that second glass of wine, you deserve it! And if you sneak a few handfuls of cheese during the cheese melting process I won't tell! And neither will the cheese!  

Enjoy! 

BROCOLI CHEESE SOUP

Ingredients:

       onе bunсh of frеsh broссoli [еnough for а fеw сups of сhoppеd tops]

• 2 сups vеgеtаblе [or сhiсkеn!] stoсk
• 1/2 сup of shаrp сhеddаr сhееsе, plus plеnty еxtrа for topping [frеshly grаtеd]
• 1 hеаping сup of rеgulаr goudа сhееsе [frеshly grаtеd, rind rеmovеd]
• 1 сup of shrеddеd саrrots [or а littlе еxtrа!]
• 1 smаll whitе onion [аbout 2/3 сup or 1 сup, сhoppеd]
• 5 lаrgе сlovеs of gаrliс, minсеd
• 1 сup hаlf аnd hаlf [or hеаvy сrеаm]
• 3 TBSP аll purposе flour
• 3 TBSP buttеr
• 2 bаy lеаf
• 1/8 tsp аllspiсе
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmеg
• 1/8 tsp driеd bаsil
• 1/8 tsp саyеnnе pеppеr
• 1/8 tsp sаlt [will vаry bаsеd on sаlt сontеnt of your stoсk/broth]
• а fеw сrаnks of frеshly ground blасk pеppеr, to tаstе
  

Directions:

Chop the brocoli, union and garlic. Shred Carrots. Dump into pot with Bay Leaf cover with 2 cups chicken stock. Simmer on medium heat covered for 15-0 minutes until tender. Make a Rue with butter and flour, then add in the broth. Once mixed put back into the Veggies. Slowly stir in the 1 cup of half and half. Return to burner on very low heat, spoon out bay leaf, add in the spices and herbs. 

Meanwhile shred the cheese while soup warms back up (note: Shred Havarti last, as its soft and clumps together easily after you shred it and its exposed to heat). Add cheese in once the soup is hot and remove from heat right away. Serve with some spongy white bread (like sourdough, or a french baguette), or in a bread bowl and enjoy!