Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Tonight's dinner is one of my favorite dishes in the whole wide world! Ask anyone... even Panera employees.... I am there quite often eating the Broccoli Cheddar soup. Well tonight I found a recipe and decided to try it out. 

The items on this recipe list are simple and easy to find, nothing complicated!

Ingredients:

1 - 1 1/2 of an Onion chopped

1/4 cup of Butter melted

1/4 cup of Flour

2 cups of Half and Half

2 cups of Chicken Stock (mixed with the water)

1/2 pound of Broccoli (chopped up)

1 cup of Carrots (slivered)

1/4 teaspoon of Salt

1/4 teaspoon of Nutmeg

8 oz of Shredded Cheese

• To get started you need to take some butter (not the 1/4) but just some extra butter and saute the onions and set them aside when you are finished with them.
• Also, cook the broccoli a little bit otherwise it will be a tad crunchy in the soup. If you like it like that then no need to cook the broccoli! 

• Next you will take the 1/4 cup of melted butter and put that into a pretty decent size pot and then slowly add the 1/4 cup of flour. Make sure you keep stirring while you add the flour or it will get chunky. Yuck! Mix that for about 3 minutes; you will know when it's done :) 

• After that you will slowly add the 2 cups of Half and Half, again stir while you pour it in or it will get weird and no one wants that when it comes to food! 

• Now you will add the 2 cups of chicken stock and as before, STIR! Once you are done with those steps let it simmer on low for about 20 minutes. Make sure you stir while it simmers otherwise it will get a layer on the top.

• While this is simmering, take time and cut your veggies! It's perfect because if you cut near the stove like I do, you will see the soup and remember to stir. So take your 1/2 pound of Broccoli and 1 cup of Carrots and chop chop chop! 

• When the 20 minutes are over add your broccoli, carrots and onions into the soup; stir it up a little and now you let it cook on low for another 25 minutes. 

• After it cooks for 25 minutes add your 1/4 teaspoon of salt and nutmeg and now its gets a little crazy....! Take the soup and put it into a blender! Yup, a blender and puree it for a little. At this point in time you can do it however you'd like. If you like big chunks of broccoli, only do it for a little, or if you like smaller chunks then blend away! 

Almost done! I promise! 

• Once you are finished blending your soup, put it back into the pot and add your cheese. When the cheese is melted the soup is all done! 

Eat with some french bread and enjoy :) 

Instructions:

1. Saute onions in a little butter in a small pan – set aside.
2. In a large pot – melt butter. Add flour and mix for 3 minutes.
3. Slowly add half- half – mixing the entire time.
4. Slowly add chicken stock- mixing the entire time.
5. Let simmer on low for 20 minutes.
6. Add broccoli, carrots; onions and cook on low for 25 minutes.
7. Season with salt, pepper; nutmeg.
8. Place soup in a blender or use an immersion blender and puree.
9. Heat soup over low heat and add cheese and mix till melted.
10. Serve and Enjoy