Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Okay, so anyone who knows me knows that I HATE broccoli.  In any and all forms.  I am not someone you can hide broccoli from because I can always taste it.  It is hideous and I do not understand why anyone would voluntarily put it in their mouths.

Apparently this baby has a different opinion on broccoli, though.

Back in December my work gave a holiday luncheon with assorted yummy hot food.  Every time I walked by the creamy broccoli chicken dish, my mouth would water.  I finally decided to try it, just knowing that once I took a bite I would probably spit it out and stop thinking about it.  Nope.  I ate two whole bowls of creamy broccoli chicken.  I ate so much of it that I didn't eat dinner that night.

I've been meaning to try broccoli again since then to see if it was a fluke, but I have been scared.  My hatred of broccoli is so ingrained, I was afraid that I would either pay money for or spend a lot of time making a broccoli dish that would then go completely to waste.

But last week at the grocery store, it happened again.  As we shopped in the produce section I kept asking my husband what that delicious smell was.  I finally tracked it down: broccoli cheddar soup.  I almost bought some, then chickened out again. 

But the smell was enough to get me to try some broccoli cheddar soup on Wednesday, when I was not allowed to have meat.  It was soooooo good! 

Here is my take on broccoli cheddar soup:

1/2 small onion, chopped
1/4 c. butter or margarine (I used salted butter)
1/4 c. flour
1 c. chicken broth
2 1/2 c. milk (I used skim because that's what we have at my house)
2 c. cooked broccoli (I used the frozen kind that you steam in the bag)
2 c. sharp cheddar, shredded

Saute the onion in the butter over medium heat.  When tender, but not brown, add in flour and stir to create a smooth consistency.  Add broth and milk and stir to combine.  Bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and add broccoli.  I used my immersion blender (I highly recommend getting one!) to puree the broccoli into the soup, but if you do not have one, you could (carefully!) pour the soup into a food processor for this step.  Or you can just leave the broccoli as chunks in the soup if you like that.  Finally, melt the cheddar cheese into the soup.  Taste and add salt as needed.  Enjoy!

A bad picture of a delicious soup!