Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup

What else do you do when you're working out on the stepper?  Think about food, of course (at least if you're me)!  I started thinking about the broccoli I had in the fridge, and then a light bulb went off in my head (that doesn't happen too often)...broccoli cheddar cheese, of course!

I'm better at cooking than photography!

 So I came up with this quick and easy recipe!

Cut up broccoli in bite size pieces, and go ahead and cut up some of the stalk too (it's just as tasty), and chop up some onion (I probably used about a 1/3 of a cup); saute that in olive oil and butter on medium heat for about 6-7 minutes, stirring occassionally.

In the meantime, in a separate pot, melt a couple of tablespoons of butter, add a tablespoon of flour, cook on low, stirring the entire time, for about a minute.  Then add maybe a cup and 1/2 of heavy cream, cook on medium high for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, add just a tiny pinch of nutmeg to that, and salt & pepper.  After it has thickened up add 1-2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, and stir until it's all mixed.

And back to the pot of broccoli---add about 1 1/2 cups or so of chicken broth, turn heat to medium high, put the lid on, and cook for about 5 minutes.  Add salt, pepper, and some pepper flakes for a bit of spice.  Then add that yummy cheese mixture, and you will have a fantastic soup just perfect for a cold winter day!

Enjoy!!
Jen