How I Lived Then
When I lived in Portland all by my little old self after college I used to make this very soup in a hand me down pot that I acquired from my mom. Speaking of the old neighborhood, some crazy fool tried to burn it down last week. I’m trying to comfort myself with the fact that my building was at least made out of brick so perhaps he was discouraged in his malicious endeavors by that fact, because as far as I know it’s still standing.
But back to soup. I love this soup! When I first made it I felt like the Queen of the Kitchen. The company I worked for had these Panera Bake sales all of the time so I’d purchase a loaf of slightly stale onion focaccia, heat it up in my rinky dink oven, and happily dip hastily torn pieces into my steaming hot bowl of veggie and cheddar goodness. Then, I’d curl up on my cold cream leather couch (also “borrowed” from my mother) pop in some netflixed Gilmore Girls episodes and suddenly life seemed pretty good for living paycheck to paycheck and charging my blonde highlights, and mental health trips to the mall on my “emergency” Visa.
Vegetable Cheddar Soup (Based on the recipe originally published in Betty Crocker’s Easy Entertaining)
4 tablespoons butter
1 onion chopped
4 carrots sliced
4 celery stalks sliced
3 cups of broccoli florets
1/2 cup flour
10 ounces of sharp white cheddar grated
2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
1 1/2 cups light cream
Salt & Freshly Ground Pepper to taste
Seeduction Croutons - optional. See below for how I made them.
Heat butter in large dutch oven over medium heat until melted. Cook carrot, onion, celery, and broccoli in butter until softened. Stir flour into the vegetable and butter mixture. Gradually stir in the chicken broth and cream. Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture boils; boil 1 minute. Slowly stir in cheese until melted. Top with homemade “Seeduction” croutons and serve.
Seeduction Croutons
4 small slices of Whole Foods Seeduction bread
1-2 tablespoons of olive oil
Salt & Freshly Ground Pepper
Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.
Slice the bread into bite sized squares.
Toss with olive olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Bake until toasted and browned.
17 Compliments for the Cook Submit a Compliment
Sarah
April 16, 2008
I love it! Gilmore Girls…that is my secret pleasure everyday…I DVR an episode everyday and watch it when I get home from work. That soup looks yummy!
Jj
April 16, 2008
This sounds very good and healthy, too! Thanks for sharing. I can see why this is a keeper!
Elle
April 16, 2008
That looks so hearty and comforting, Erin. Love the easy croutons, too!
Cze-Johnson Carrie
April 16, 2008
ummm.. flour is not in the ingredients list? just wondering how much to add? (sorry if it’s in the B Crocker link.. I haven’t clicked that yet)
soup is another one of my ‘feared’ things to make. I mean, I’ve tried onion and chicken and brothy types, but the creamy thick ones I love to eat are the ones I fear most to make.
this does look nice, though. one of these days I’ll try! bread! and SOUP!! hell.. maybe soup IN bread! hah!
Erin
April 16, 2008
Cze-Johnson Carrie - Thanks for catching that! I just made the edit. I guess I spaced it… This soup is so easy. And your kids will love it. It’s like a big bowl of veggie mac and cheese without the pasta
Erin
April 16, 2008
This look so good! I love soup — and with this cold spell we’ve had this week this soup sounds perfect!!
michelle @ TNS
April 16, 2008
broccoli cheddar soup…i lived on the panera soup my senior year in college. that and baked lays.
now, i also make my own, and it rocks. i never branch out with my veggies though. i guess i should, because this sounds yummy.
farida
April 16, 2008
Delicious soup! And easy to make too. I like the fact that you don’t even have to pure it in a blender:)
Ellie
April 17, 2008
Yummm! What a way to take veggie soup to the next level of indulgence! We’re hitting the colder months here so I’m stocking up on delicious winter recipes like this - thanks!
Nicole
April 17, 2008
Sounds delicious! Nothing better than homemade croutons on soup!
Melanie
April 17, 2008
This looks fantastic! I love the crouton idea…or maybe serving in bread bowls. Yum!
kat
April 18, 2008
oh erin. we’re so much alike. gilmore girls, anne of green gables, clarissa. and now soup! mmm.
Donald
April 18, 2008
Nice Erin. I make a similar dish. I actually was making a potato soup and accidentally ended up with veggies and cheese in it. We loved it.
Oh, I really like the seeduction croutons. I have been enjoying a loaf of that from time to time since you turned me on to it. It is readily available at WF here.
farida
April 20, 2008
Erin, I just made this soup! It turned out delicious! I didn’t have celery so I skipped it though I am sure it could have added to the flavor nicely. And I didn’t have cream - I simply added more flour and used milk instead of cream. Turned out great! Thanks for the recipe! PS: Have you noticed I am a loyal tester of your recipes?:))) Cheers!
ann
April 21, 2008
Erin - you totally just made my day with this. My mom used to make a very similar soup when I was little, and I never knew where it came from and have never seen a recipe that looked like a plausible substitute. (We’re not sure what happened to all her recipes after she died, sniff.) Given that she was very prone to Betty Crocker recipes, this is a good lead… thank you!!
Abbey
April 25, 2008
Okay, so I’m not normally so into a veggie type soup…but when you throw in the word Cheddar…I’m ALL OVER IT! In fact, I’m going to make it for dinner tomorrow night.
I just asked Drew (the husband) if he wanted Vegetable Cheddar Soup…and he said, “Yum. That sounds good.” And I’m pretty sure he even giggled a little. That man is all about the cheese.
Amber
April 28, 2008
OMG. Again you tempt me with yumminess. I’ve been needing a new soup recipe too. Thanks!
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