Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Hello and happy Sunday after Thanksgiving! The holidays are in full swing and it has been showing around here! I finally had time to get all of my Christmas decorations out and we went to get our real tree yesterday, too. Our weekend has been full of friends, family and food. Three of my favorite things. I apologize for not getting this soup recipe and grocery list up earlier, I just plum ran out of time! Do people use that phrase anymore? No? Moving on.

So this broccoli and cheddar soup reminds me exactly of Panera's soup and I couldn't be happier with that because I love that soup! I found a recipe here, but changed it up. Here's what you'll need:

First you melt the butter, then whisk in the flour. Once that is combined slowly add in your half and half. I mean slooowly while rapidly whisking it together. This is how you make a roux.

After the flour and butter are mixed well it'll look like the picture above. That's when you start adding the half and half.

Once all the cream is combined and the mixture starts to thicken you add in the chicken broth and let simmer.

 Then add in the broccoli and carrots.

Once the veggies have softened, add in your cheese, salt and pepper until it's all melty and cheesy and awesomey (?)!!

Since I was making this for a crock pot meal I then let my soup cool. Once it was cooled enough, I split it up into two bags, laid them flat and froze them with my other meals. Since it is a more time-consuming recipe I tend to make this the day after I do my crock pot meals. That way it can get the attention it deserves. You can definitely try to do this the day you make all your meals if you aren't able to the next day. (I was just being a little lazy :)

Yes that is a picture of the bottom of my bowl, no I did not remember to take an awesomely posed picture before I started inhaling this soup...it's that good. But just imagine the bowl full to the rim with lots of extra shredded cheese on top and there you go. We serve ours with biscuits and extra cheese. It's always a crowd favorite. Below the recipe you'll find the shopping list I used to make all 20 crock pot meals. Let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy!!

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup butter, melted
1/2 Cup flour
4 Cups half and half
4 Cups chicken broth
1 lb (3 heads) broccoli
2 Cups skinny cut carrots
1/2 tsp salt/pepper/nutmeg
2 Cups shredded sharp cheddar
2 Cups shredded mild cheddar

Directions:
Melt butter in the bottom of the pot. Add flour and whisk over medium quickly until fully combined (about 3-5 minutes). Slowly (very slowly) add in the half and half, whisking constantly. This is an important step. This is what sets the consistency for the soup. If it doesn't combine together right, your soup won't be as thick. It'll still be yummy, but also a little runny.
Once all the half and half is in, add the chicken broth. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Add the broccoli and carrots and cook on low for 20-25 minutes. Add the cheese, salt and pepper and stir until cheese is melted. Serve right away with your favorite chunk of bread or allow to cool and store in large freezer bags until later use.
When ready to unfreeze and serve I cook mine in my crock pot on low for 3-4 hours before serving. This allows some water to evaporate and helps the soup thicken up again. Enjoy!

Main Shopping list for my 20 crock pot meals (let me know if I forgot anything :)

 

Dinners	Ingredients	Amount		Seasonings	Amount
Chicken Fajitas	Chicken	8 breasts		taco seasoning	2 packets
	Ground Beef	3-4 lbs		chili powder	2 Tbsp
Cheesy Chicken	beef roast	2 lbs		paprika	2 tsp
	pork shoulder	2 lb		salt	9 tsp
Buffalo Chicken	smoked sausage	1		garlic powder	1 tbsp + 2 tsp
	green peppers	3		pepper	7 tsp
Honey Sesame Chicken	chicken broth	5 cups		oregano	1 tbsp
	tortillas	1 package		cumin	1 tsp
Chili	sour cream	1 tub		basil	1 tsp
	lettuce	1 head		cayenne	1 tsp
Sloppy Joes	cream of chicken	2		sugar	1 tsp
	ched chz soup	1 can		flour	1/4 cup
Pot Roast	butter	3/4 C		rosemary	1 tsp
	potatoes	5
Pulled Pork	ranch	1/3 cup
	blue cheese	1/3 cup
Mac and Cheese	hot sauce	1 bottle+1 tsp
	dinner rolls	1 package
Broccoli and Cheese	olive oil	10 T
	honey	1 cup
	soy sauce	1/2 cup
	sesame seeds	2 Tbsp
	beef broth	3 cups
	carrots	4
	chili beans	1 can
	tomato sauce	3 cans 8oz
	tomato paste	2 cans (sm)
	worchestershire	4 Tbsp
	ketchup	1/2 cup
	brown sugar	1/4 cup
	cider vinegar	1 Tbsp
	yellow mustard	2 Tbsp
	root beer	1 bottle
	macaroni	3/4lb (12oz)
	shredded cheese	8 cups
	evaporated milk	1 can
	milk	1 1/2 c
	egg	1
	1/2 and 1/2	4 c
	broccoli	1 lb
	skinny carrots	2 cups

                                          sesame oil           2 Tbsp
Feel free to copy and paste into an excel sheet. Then you can edit and delete the things you don't need. Happy Cooking!!

Thanks for stopping by!

**I linked up to cornerstone confessions and the winthrop chronicles and the recipe critic and cedar hill farmhouse and our delightful home and chef in training and the diary of a real housewife and smiling sally and home coming and between naps on the porch and dwellings-the heart of your home and rain on a tin roof and diy hshp and tumbleweed contessa and mad in crafts and make ahead meals for busy moms and craft-o-maniac and carrie this home and huckleberry love and making the world cuter and flour me with love and alderberry hill and This gal cooks and bizzy bakes and sew can do and a pinch of joy and made from pinterest and your home based mom and whats cooking with ruthie and be different act normal and too much time on my hands and will cook for smiles and i gotta create and flamingo toes and pink when