The CuisiNerd

It’s cold outside, so it’s time for some yummy winter fare.

You will need:

• A large pot
• A hand blender (or a regular blender)
• Butter (1 quarter-pound stick plus 2 tablespoons)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 quart dairy (milk or half-and-half, depending on how rich you want this to be)
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1 pound shredded carrots
• 1 pound broccoli
• 1 pound potatotes, cubed (or use leftover baked potato)
• 1 pound cheese suitable for melting (I highly recommend at least 2 oz cream cheese as part of this)
• 1 Tablespoon salt
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

Take 2 tablespoons of the butter and saute the onions, and set them aside.

Take the remaining butter and flour and make a roux. Add the dairy and chicken stock and let simmer and thicken for about 20 minutes.

While it’s doing this, cook the broccoli (5 min), carrots (2 min), and potatoes (4 min) in a covered dish in the microwave.

After the base has thickened some, add the vegetables, salt, and garlic and let simmer for another 5-10 minutes. Use a hand blender to puree the mixture (you can also do it in batches in a regular blender if you need to).

Add the cheese and melt until it’s nice and thick. Serve with a really good roll.

Makes around 16 cups/8 servings.