Thursday, March 26, 2020

Make This! Broccoli Cheese Soup

How are you all holding up? This stay at home order makes me want to bake, bake, bake. I'm not though, as then I would eat, eat, eat.  

Yesterday was cold and rainy so soup was the natural choice for dinner.  After seeing what we had in the fridge that needed to be eaten soon,(Costco bag of broccoli) I decided to go through the blog archives to see what yummy recipes I hadn't made in while.

I located this recipe from a post dated February 17, 2011.  This soup is a really fantastic comfort food. I changed the recipe last night: cup of grated Dubliner cheese, left out the carrots,  and used whipping cream instead of half & half.  Make it! Your family will love it!

Broccoli Cheese Soup
1/2 onion, chopped
1 T butter (for sauteeing onions)
1/4 c flour
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 pint half & half (I used heavy whipping cream)
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 pound fresh broccoli, chopped
1 cup carrots, shredded
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 can diced green chiles
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cayenne pepper. (I added because I like spicy food)

Sautee onion in 1 Tbs butter over medium heat until onions turn translucent. Set aside.
Cook the 1/4 cup melted butter and flour, whisking over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Slowly add half & half while continuing to whisk. Add chicken stock while continuing to whisk. Let simmer 20 minutes.
Add broccoli, carrots & onions. Cook over low heat until veggies are tender. Add salt & pepper.
Pour the mixture into a food processor and blend until smooth. Return to the pot over low heat. Add cheese. Stir in nutmeg & serve. Enjoy!

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Strange Times

To quote everyone else...we are living in strange times. I am working from home like most other people until my boss says it's safe to return to work. Someone was exposed to the COVID-19 virus at the building I work in on campus.  Strict orders for all of us to, in his words, 'stay away.'

Omid set me up with a work station at our dining room table. He is working upstairs in his home office. I visited him a couple times today. I asked him if it was just like work with annoying coworkers stopping by unannounced. He said, "Yes." I let him be.

My boss emailed our team today and reminded us that it is the first day of spring. The birds are singing, the flowers have bloomed and asked us to take a minute to really notice it. He also asked us to reach out to friends and loved ones.

I miss my friends. We had weekly dinners. A weekend getaway next month was cancelled with other dear friends as we don't know if we'll still be on lockdown then. A visit from a colleague in Germany was cancelled.

Nas is supposed to fly home in two weeks. Will she be able to? We are worried that national air travel might not be allowed. I actually asked her to drive home all the way from Miami today. That is how worried we are that we won't get to see her.

I am trusting that all will be okay. I know it will be.