Broccoli Cheese Soup

Broccoli Cheese Soup 

Currently (and we all know this changes) Eric's favorite soup. My kids are not as big of fans. 

I also make Mel's Italian Bread Bowls with this

This is basically Gram's recipe with a few things I have done the last few times :). 

Ingredients

1.5 cups potatoes chopped (I do one huge one or 2 normal-ish ones)

half a crown broccoli chopped

half a crown cauliflower chopped

2-3 carrots chopped

2-3 stalks celery chopped

half an onion chopped

I do 2 cans of chicken broth (which are 14 oz) plus a cup of water and a boulion. Mom does 2 cups chicken broth (so less but she also I think is maybe doing a cup of all the veggies and also I used heavy cream instead of half and half--see below)

1 cup milk

1 cup half and half (I have been using 1 cup of heavy cream instead--I usually use one packet of my shelf stable stuff. It's so good)

1/c flour

2 cups velveeta in cubes (16 oz)

And I add in a handful---maybe 3/4 cup to 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded because I think it just needed a little more salt/taste because I think I added a lot of broth and veggies--this is optional but I think it's better

Optional (but I never do) you can add cubed ham

Directions

So, first put all the veggies and the broth in and you need to get them soft. You have some options. The favorite way is to bring it to a boil and clamp a lid on it and then just let it sit for a while....then you don't have to babysit it. 

Next, I mix the milk, cream/half&half, and flour in a blender so it's smooth!

Make sure the soup is hot but NOT BOILING. Then add the milk mixture, velveeta cut up and the optional cheddar cheese and stir occasionally until all melted. 

Eat! yum