Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Husband Taste Rating: ****
"It was delicious!"

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 onion, chopped

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk

2 cups chicken stock

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped broccoli florets

1 cup matchstick-cut carrots

1 stalk celery, thinly sliced

2 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

salt and ground black pepper to taste

Step One:

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.  Saute onion in hot butter until translucent, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Step Two:

Whisk 1/4 cup melted butter and flour together in a large saucepan over medium-low heat; cook until flour loses its granular texture, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk if necessary to keep the flour from burning, 3 to 4 minutes.

Step Three:

Gradually pour milk into flour mixture while whisking constantly.  Stir chicken stock into milk mixture.  Bring to a simmer; cook until flour taste is gone and mixture is thickened, about 20 minutes.  Add broccoli, carrots, sauteed onion, and celery; simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

Step Four:

Stir cheddar cheese into vegetable mixture until cheese melts.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.