Broccoli-Cheese Soup

We got this recipe from The Simple Soups Deck my mom got for Christmas. It's a deck of 50 cards each with a different recipe for soup. This one was so good and had so much flavor! Homemade soup is always so warm and comforting! My mom made it and she said she didn't follow the recipe exactly (I think she added a little extra potato, onion, and broccoli and I don't think she pureed as much of the soup as it says to). We served ours with the homemade Tomato Focaccia.

(serves 4)
Ingredients:

4 cups chopped broccoli florets
1 cup chopped yellow onion
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 large russet potato (about 3/4 lb.), peeled and sliced
1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups milk
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
1 Tbsp. minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions:

Combine the broccoli, onion, celery, garlic, potato, and stock in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.

Transfer 3/4 of the mixture to a food processor or blender and puree. Return to the pan and add the milk, cheese, seasonings, and parsley. Heat gently, stirring, until the cheese melts and the soup is hot.

Hot and Sour Soup

Callie and I found this recipe a few years ago and it has become a staple in our house. The original recipe (I don't remember where we got it from) called for chicken but we liked it better as a vegetarian soup. Not the prettiest soup but it does taste good! I love how the ground red pepper gives it a little extra heat. So good for lunch on a cold day!

Ingredients:

3 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup water
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 cup cole slaw mix
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 egg, beaten
chopped green onion (optional)

Directions:
In a saucepan, combine broth, water, mushrooms, colesaw, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and red pepper. Boil, then reduce to low and cover.

In a separate bowl stir together cornstarch and vinegar. Return to a boil, then drizzle in egg while stirring. Stir in vinegar and cornstarch. Simmer until thickened. Garnish with green onion.

Serves: 4