Sweet & Savory - Cheddar Broccoli Soup

Just thinking about the scrumptious combination of cheddar cheese and creamed broccoli makes my mouth water!  This soup is a lunch or brunch favorite.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups milk
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp. thyme
• a few drops of hot sauce (I used Cajun Sunshine)
• 3/4 tsp. salt, optional
• 1 medium onion, pureed
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups broccoli, chopped
• 1/8 tsp. garlic pepper
• 2 cups milk
• 4 Tbsp. flour
• 4 Tbsp. butter
• 2 cups shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• Croutons, bread, or crackers

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Place chicken broth, onion, broccoli, garlic pepper, thyme, bay leaves, and hot sauce inside a large sauce pan or stock pot.
• Bring to a boil and reduce heat.
• Cover and simmer for 12 minutes or until broccoli is softened.
• Remove the bay leaves.
• Pour mixture into food processor and pulse until smooth.
• Pour into large bowl.
• Melt butter in sauce pan in which you cooked the broccoli.  
• Add flour and salt until a paste forms.
• Add milk and cook, stirring continuously, until mixture thickens.
• Add cheddar cheese and stir until dissolved and mixture is smooth.
• Pour in broccoli mixture and heat until well blended.
• Use additional chicken broth or hot water to thin, if necessary.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

• Serve with bread, crackers, or croutons.
• Sprinkle additional shredded cheddar cheese before serving bowls or cups of soup.
• Serve with freshly fried, crumbled, drained, bacon chunks.

Enjoy!

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram 

Sweet & Savory Monday ~~ Autumn Soup

A bowl of hot soup deserves a warm welcome on these cool, windy, rainy days! Paired up with bread, rolls, or crackers, your family or dinner guests will be happy diners.  I prepared this recipe in a crock pot, but it could be easily cooked on your stove top in a soup pan or saucepan.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups diced tomatoes
• 1 medium zucchini, diced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 Tbsp. garlic, diced
• 2 Idaho Burbank Russet medium sized potatoes, diced
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 1 cup corn
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1 tsp. salt, optional
• 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 cup corkscrew noodles or variety of your choice

DIRECTIONS:

• Wash and prepare all veggies
• Place inside crock pot or soup pan/sauce pan
• Fill pan with enough water to cover vegetables
• Cook until vegetables are tender

Here's a nifty 90 idea if you are using your crock pot ~~

Whoever designed these crock pot liners deserves more than a High 5! Before placing the ingredients into your crock pot, place liner inside which helps to make clean up so much easier.

I prefer to make large batches of soups and stews so that I can have left overs. In addition, these containers of soup can be frozen in order to be heated and served at a later date.

This is a great way to get all of your daily servings of vegetables in one fell swoop!  Be creative and add your own favorite veggies.  Another health aspect of preparing your own recipe is the absence of preservatives.  

Enjoy Autumn's bounty and stay warm!

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram 

Sweet & Savory Thursday ~~ Breakfast Casserole

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 slices of bread, cubed with crusts removed
• 1 pound of sausage, browned and well drained
• 9 beaten eggs
• 3 cups milk (or 1 1/2 cups each of milk and half & half)
• 1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
• 3 Tbsp. dehydrated onion
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. salt, optional
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1 Tbsp. Cajun Sunshine or hot sauce of your choice
• 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Paprika

DIRECTIONS:

• Place bread cubes in the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish
• Sprinkle browned sausage evenly over the bread cubes
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs well.  Add the milk (or milk and half & half) and all other ingredients.  Mix well.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate over night.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Sprinkle paprika over the top.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean
• Serves 12.

This is a great recipe to prepare for the holidays or when you are having out of town company pay you a visit.

Serve with fresh fruit and breakfast rolls.

Happy Breakfasting or Brunching!

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram