Potato Cheddar Broccoli Soup

As the days get shorter and our breath starts to become visible when we are outside, my mind turns to the kitchen. Yes I love to cook, but the advantage to cooking this time of year is that I will be nice and toasty warm in the kitchen!

When sunset comes before supper, my people love a good stew, can’t wait to dig into a good slow cooked dish, crave big and flavorful casseroles and have a handful of rich and creamy soups that call to us. When the soup mood hits us, I usually turn to this cheesy soup that I almost always have the ingredients on hand for!

The combination of healthy veggies, a rich and creamy broth and sharp cheddar cheese makes this one truly a meatless winner! This will warm you up on even the coldest night Mother Nature can throw your way. Paired up with a nice crusty loaf of Basic French Bread or your favorite from the bakery makes this a soup-er meal!

Potato Cheddar Broccoli Soup

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour | Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 cups potatoes (about 2 medium russet potatoes)
• 1/4 medium onion, finely diced
• 2 cups broccoli (about 2 small heads), cut into small florets and stems finely diced, if using
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 can chicken broth (about 15 ounces-you can subsitute vegetable broth to make this completely vegetarian)
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 cups white cheddar cheese, shredded
• salt to taste
• pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat
2. Once butter is melted, add onions and stir to coat in butter
3. Add potatoes and mix in to coat
4. Allow potatoes and onions to cook in butter for about 5-6 minutes or until onions become tender, stirring frequently
5. Add flour, mixing to ensure potatoes and onions are well coated
6. Slowly add broth, then add milk
7. Bring to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are just tender (can be pierced with a fork but are not falling apart), about 20 minutes
8. Slowly add broccoli to the pan and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes (broccoli will turn a bright shade of green)
9. Remove from heat and add lemon juice and salt and pepper
10. Add the cheese to the pot and mix to thoroughly combine and melt the cheese
11. Taste and add more salt and/or pepper if desired
12. Grab some bowls and dig into this tasty, cheesy delight!