Recipe--Cheese Soup

Our outdoor thermometer recorded a low of -1.5º! That’s something new for us transplanted Texans! (I don’t even want to *think* about our next natural gas bill! Yikes!)

So, this is another perfect day for homemade soup! And I decided to make one of our favorites:  Cheese Soup.

I got the recipe years ago from one of our neighbors growing up. She was probably 65 when I was 15; who knows? She seemed old to me my whole life. In fact, in the innocent stupidity of youth I even asked her once, “What’s it like to be old?” Her answer was brilliant: “It takes longer to recover.”

She was outspoken and vibrant, and a quite the world traveler. She’d hop a freight ship to Australia or head off to Russia. She was one of those flashy types that always wore a matching hat and scarf in something like orange or turquoise or hot pink. It matched her great personality. She was just so cool.

She got this recipe out of the Austin paper, which got it from a local restaurant. I’m afraid I don’t remember the name of that restaurant, but I’d just about swear that this is as good as the soup at Charleston’s here in Edmond. And if you made it with real cream, oh, I can’t even imagine...! J

CHEESE SOUP

4 c. chicken broth (2 cans)
½ c. carrots, finely chopped
2½ ribs celery, finely chopped
½ small bell pepper, finely chopped
S&P to taste

(I add about 4 chopped potatoes. You could also add cooked chicken.)

4 T. butter
4 T. flour
2 c. milk
1 c. cheddar cheese, grated  (I use more!)

Put broth and veggies in a 6 qt. pan.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer while preparing the rest.

Melt butter in a small saucepan. Add flour and stir until well mixed, but not brown. Add the milk slowly, stirring. Stir until smooth. Add this to the big pan.

Add grated cheese, S&P to the soup. Cook until well blended and hot.

Makes about 2 qt.

Look at that poor little piece of parsley! Ha-ha! But in these temps, and a blanket of snow for 2 weeks, I was surprised there was even any left in the flowerbed!

Stay warm!

XOXO,
Lucky Dog
♥