A Soup Day

It's been snowing most of the day so we obviously aren't finished with soup weather yet. I wanted to share a recipe of my mom's that I recently tried and served at a cousins' lunch. I thought it was really yummy and definitely a keeper. (The amounts of vegetables can be altered according to taste.)

Creamy Vegetable Cheese Soup

1 medium sized onion - chopped
1 T minced garlic
1-2 T butter
2 1/2 lbs potatoes - cubed (I used 4-5 medium sized potatoes and that was plenty)
2 carrots - cubed
5 C chicken stock
8 oz broccoli florets
8 oz cauliflower florets
1/4 C or more milk
3/4 C whipping cream
1 C or more shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper according to taste

In a large pot saute onion and garlic in butter until soft. Add potatoes, carrots and chicken stock. Boil until vegetables are fork tender. Meanwhile, steam broccoli and cauliflower until fork tender. Add broccoli and cauliflower to large pot. Simmer. Use potato masher to slightly mash vegetables (I didn't smash them to smithereens because I still wanted small chunks of vegetables in my soup. It's up to you.). Add milk, cream and shredded cheese. Stir constantly over low heat to combine. Add more milk to reach desired consistency. Serve with more cheese sprinkled on top.

OK - so this recipe isn't necessarily low-calorie - but think of all those vegetables you are getting!

And for an after dinner treat - try this fun idea! My kids have done this a couple of times now. (There are two recipes in this link - I have tried them both but I am referring the one with the rolos and the pretzels.)