Cheryl wrote:
>
> > I'm going to look up my mom's recipe. She makes it every year for my
> > birthday. Though she adds cheese so it's cheesy cream of broccoli.
> > Her's is the best.
> >
>
> Very simply how she makes it.
>
> Broccoli cream soup
>
> 2 c chopped broccoli
> 2 T butter
> ½ t thyme
> 1 bat leaf
> 1 cup half and half (I use 1% milk)
> 1 ½ cup chicken broth
> 2 T flour
> ½ cup onion
> dash pepper and garlic
>
> Combine broth, broccoli, onion, bay leaf, thyme and garlic powder in
> pan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until tender,
> remove bay leaf. Blend in blender ½ broccoli, mix 30-60 seconds until
> smooth. Repeat remaining broccoli. Melt butter in saucepan, blend
> flour, pepper and add cream. At this point I add about 1 cup shredded
> cheddar cheese. Cook until thick and bubbly, stirring constantly. Stir
> in pureed broccoli.
>
> (my note: I use a stick blender and mix it in the pot rather than in a
> blender)

Thanks for that, Cheryl. Very similar to what I make but I'll try yours next
time. I love cheesy cream of broccoli soup.

For me, I would only blend 1/2 of the chopped broccoli. I like some chunks
in my soup.

Also important (to me) is to use a good strong homemade chicken broth. I
hate the cheap watery broth that comes in cans or boxes and I've tried
several brands.

Also (see recipe above), I don't have any "bat leaf" but a bay leaf would
probably suffice. ;-)

The first time (years ago) that I made this, I used the recipe on the back
of a box of Lipton's Chicken Noodle soup. I know....TIAD for some but it
tasted pretty good.

- one package of Lipton Chicken noodle soup mix
- 3 cups of chicken broth rather than 4 cups of water
- one 10 oz box of frozen chopped broccoli
- 2 slices of american cheese product. that was my own addition to make it
cheesy.

Since then, I make my own from scratch. I'll try your recipe next time.

G.