Cheesy Vegetable Chowder

With all the cold weather we have been having soups, stews and chowders are the way to go for the nightly meal.  Nothing warms you up after a very cold day like a hearty bowl of soup.

Don't let all the ingredients scare you off, this soup is worth it.

Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in a large pot.

Cook 1/2 cup chopped onions until they are tender.

Chop up at least one stalk of celery.  I used the inner core of the celery with the leaves.  According to the Deen Brothers the leaves add a lot of flavor to the soup. So don't throw them away.

Add 1 cup finely chopped carrot.  I grated mine.

Put it all in the pot and let them cook for a few minutes.

Add 1 Tablespoon minced garlic.  I didn't use quite that much.

Add 4 cups chicken broth.  I didn't have chicken broth, I thought I did but when I looked for it it was vegetable broth.  So I used that broth and added some chicken bouillon to the mix.

Chop up about 2 large baking potatoes.

Measure 1/2 cup water

Measure out 1 Tablespoon flour

Mix the water and the flour together to make a slurry.  Add this to the soup to help thicken it.

Chop 2 cups of broccoli in small pieces.

Add 2/3 cup milk to the soup

Add the broccoli

Stir and let cook for a few minutes so the broccoli will cook.

Then add 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.

Stir to let the cheese mix and melt.  When the cheese is melted it is ready to eat.

Add a little extra cheese on top and dig in.

Cheesy Vegetable Chowder Recipe

2 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup finely chopped carrot

1 celery stick finely chopped

1 Tablespoon minced garlic

4 cups chicken broth

2 large baking potatoes peeled and chopped

1 Tablespoon flour

1/2 cup water

2/3 cup milk

2 cups chopped broccoli

2 heaping cups shredded cheddar cheese.