Soup's On!

Okay, admittedly, this obviously isn't a bowl of homemade.  What is more comforting though, on a cold, autumn day than a bowl of soup?  Maybe it's a bowl thing.  Soup, mashed potatoes or banana pudding?  All three are quite comforting...

But I digress.  I love soup.  More on the potatoes and banana pudding another day.  

Soup, stews, chowders.  There are particular combinations that are married, you see.  Kind of like salt and pepper.  Okay, ABC soup?  That's peanut butter and jelly.  Cream of tomato?  Grilled cheese, of course.  Cream of broccoli?  Grilled ham and cheese.  New England Clam Chowder?  Of course those wonderful hexagonal-shaped chowder crackers!  What's your favorite combination?

Having a hard time deciding what to serve for company?  Try a soup potluck.  That's what the girls and I are going to do for our monthly potluck next month at our house.  I'm going to make 5 different kinds of homemade soups and for the potluck part, each gal will bring an accompanyment, like bread, cheese, or crackers...

Here's the famous apricot corner recipe for: 

Cream of Broccoli Soup

3 large bunches fresh broccoli
Mashed potatoes (5-6 yukon gold potatoes, heavy cream, butter, salt/pepper)
1 stick butter (thank you Julia)
1/2 t. sugar
1/4 c. bacon, diced (again, love you Julia)
2/3 c. onions, diced
2/3 c. celery, diced
1 c. flour
1 1/2 quarts 1/2 and 1/2 (or whole milk, or if you must, heavy cream- um, Julia ;) )
1 quart chicken broth
1/4 t. pepper (or to taste)
2 t. salt (or to taste)
dash nutmeg

Clean, cut, and separate broccoli bunches into stems and florets.  Trim the outer layer from the stems with a potato peeler and cut into bite size pieces.  Blanch stem pieces and florets in enough water to cover.

Melt butter in a saute pan.  Add bacon, onions, celery, and sugar.  Cook until very tender and bacon starts to brown.  Add flour and whisk together to make a roux.  Cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  Slowly add half and half to roux, whisking until smooth.  Cook on medium heat until thick.

Add stock to pot of broccoli with blanching water.   Stir in mashed potatoes and onion/celery/bacon cream.  Add pepper, salt, and a dash of nutmeg.  Bring just up to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes. 

Enjoy.... see ya round the corner!

XOXO