Dinner Tonight

What a rainy Friday it has been! We are hosting church at our home this Sunday, so a majority of my day has been spent scrubbing and cleaning the house. I'm kind of glad it was raining today because who wants to be stuck inside cleaning on a warm sunny day? :) It was such a lovely day though, and I was able to get all of my cleaning done and enjoy a visit this morning from a friend, also a young mother, that I had been talking to off and on for a while. Also, Esther ate her first bites of rice cereal this morning! I couldn't tell if she liked it or not. :) She made a funny face when I gave her a little spoonful and then seemed to enjoy it. One time I thought she had swallowed and, before I knew it, it was being spit out all over me. :) Silly girl. 

Since today was so busy, I decided to take it easy for dinner tonight and throw together some sort of soup. I have been subscribing to Food Network magazine and in each issue there is some sort of "copy-cat" recipe from different restaurants. I decided to make "Broccoli-Cheddar Soup" that tastes identical to the soup at Panera's. Eli and I really enjoy it but don't eat it too often because it has quite a bit of cheese and butter. :) It is so good though...probably for those reasons. :) Here's the recipe if y'all want to try it...

Panera's Broccoli-Cheddar Soup

6 T butter

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 C. all purpose flour

2 C. half and half (I use milk to be less fattening)

3 C. chicken broth

2 bay leaves

1/4 t. nutmeg

salt and pepper

4 C. broccoli, chopped

1 carrot, diced

2 1/2 C. grated cheddar cheese

Melt butter in pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender. Whisk in flour and cook until golden, then gradually whisk in half and half until smooth. Add chicken broth, bay leaves, nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Reduce to medium low heat and cook for about 20 minutes until thickened. Add broccoli and carrot and simmer until tender. Discard bay leaves. Blend soup in batches in a blender until smooth. Return to pot and add cheese. Stir until melted and serve.

Comments

[Emily]

Yummy! I'll have to try this recipe. :D

[Margaret]

This sounds great- I often get this soup at Panera, so I'll have to try this out!

[Amber]

Just want to say that I'm so glad you're posting more often lately, Allison. I enjoy hearing about what you're up to. :)

(...Don't take me wrong: I totally understand when you get too busy to post!) :) :) :)

The soup sounds yummy. A clean house sounds great, too! :)

[Meredith]

I always get this at Panera also. I look forward to trying it out. What a joy it is to see so many new posts! I love seeing what you are doing each day.