Sarasota's White Cheddar Cheese Soup

"A flavorful soup with simple ingredients. This can be lunch, an easy dinner, or serve this with grilled brats/onions and a side of broccoli apple slaw (my favorite). Just add store bought broccoli slaw in a bag, add some apples, pears and your own dressing and you have a nice dinner. There are also many great recipes on here for slaw of every kind. I think originally this was adapted from Cuisine at Home or Cooking Light, but I have added my touches which I enjoy. Now when I make this, it is usually for friends, so there may be 8 or more of us, so I always make a big pot. You can easily scale this down and just make half, but it is so good that I go ahead and make this and enjoy it throughout the week for a nice snack, lunch or a quick dinner. Why not have a big pot of soup in the refrigerator you can just heat up for a quick bite when."
 
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Ready In:
45mins
Ingredients:
20
Yields:
8 Bowls
Serves:
8
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ingredients

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directions

  • Base -- In a large soup pot, add the butter and bring to medium heat and melt. Then add in the onion, celery, leeks and garlic and coat until slightly tender. You don't want to brown these. Just slowly cook, about 8-10 minutes.
  • Roux and Broth -- Add in the flour, dijon mustard and cook another minute to thicken the vegetables and make a roux, stirring constantly so it doesn't burn. Add in the wine and whisk in to deglaze the pan and get all the bits if any off the bottom and to thicken the sauce. Slowly add in the broth and bring to medium high heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
  • Puree -- Remove from the heat when you do this. I like to use my immersion blender for this, it is so easy - invest in one, it is so worth it. But if you don't have one, use your good old fashioned blender. I puree about half way, I like a little texture to remain in my soup, but also like it creamy. So puree until it is to the consistency you like, return to the stove and continue to cook on medium heat for another 10 minutes.
  • Finish -- Add in half of the milk and half of the cream, the cheese (cheddar and parmesan), fresh thyme, and red pepper flakes. Stir and continue to cook until the cheese has melted. Continue to add a little milk and cream even amounts until you reach your desired consistency. I do this because I have found some like their soup thicker, and others thinner, so I just keep adding a little at a time until it is right for you.
  • Test for Salt and pepper and add in the scallions. Cook just a couple of minutes more.
  • Serve -- A large mug or bowl and add some parsley and tomato on top. ENJOY!

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>Growing up in Michigan, I spent my summers at my cottage in the Northern part up by Traverscity. On a lake, big garden which had all the vegetables you could imagine. My mom taught school, so summers were our vacation time. Gramps and I fished all the time so fresh fish was always on the menu, perch, blue gill, walleye and small and large mouth bass. At age 5 I learned how to clean my own fish and by 10 I was making dinner, canning vegetables and fruits, making pies and fresh breads. Apples fresh picked every fall, strawberries in June and July, Cherries at the Cherry Festival in Traverscity. So fresh foods always were a big part. Mom worked as a teacher during the year so dinner was more traditional with pot roasts, meatloaf, etc, but it seemed we always had fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the meal. Mom also didn't use as many spices as I do, but times were different back then. <br /> <br />So ... My motto is ... There is NO Right and NO Wrong with cooking. So many people thing they have to follow a recipe. But NO ... a recipe is a method and directions to help and teach someone. Cooking is about personal tastes and flavors. I love garlic ... and another person may not. I like heat ... but you may not. Recipes are building blocks, NOT text ground in stone. Use them to make and build on. Even my recipes I don't follow most times --They are a base. That is what cooking is to me. A base of layer upon layer of flavors. <br /> <br />I still dislike using canned soups or packaged gravies/seasoning ... but I admit, I do use them. I have a few recipes that use them. But I try to strive to teach people to use fresh ingredients, they are first ... so much healthier for you ... and second, in the end less expensive. But we all have our moments including me. <br /> <br />So, lets see ... In the past, I have worked as a hostess, bartender, waitress, then a short order cook, salad girl in the kitchen, sort of assistant chef, head chef, co owner of a restaurant ... now a consultant to a catering company/restaurant, I cater myself and I'm a personal chef for a elderly lady. I work doing data entry during the day, and now and then try to have fun which is not very often due to my job(s). <br /> <br />I have a 21 year old who at times is going on 12, aren't they all. Was married and now single and just trying to enjoy life one day at a time. I'm writing a cookbook ... name is still in the works but it is dedicated to those people who never learned, to cook. Single Moms, Dads, or Just Busy Parents. Those individuals that think you can't make a great dinner for not a lot of money. You can entertain on a budget and I want people to know that gourmet tasting food doesn't have to be from a can of soup or a box, and healthy food doesn't come from a drive through. There are some really good meals that people can make which are healthy and will save money but taste amazing. So I guess that is my current goal. We all take short cuts and I have no problem with that - I do it too. I volunteer and make food for the homeless every couple of months, donating my time and money. I usually make soup for them and many times get donations from a local grocery stores, Sams Club, Walmart etc, with broth, and vegetables. It makes my cost very little and well worth every minute I spend. Like anyone, life is always trying to figure things out and do the best we can and have fun some how along the way.</p>
 
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