Lisa's Broccoli Cheese Soup (Panera Copycat)

Ten years ago (I remember specifically that we were at the beach), in one of those amazing Six Degrees of Separation connections, Lisa saw and recognized my name on a Colorado Springs friend's Facebook page. Lisa and I were childhood friends, neighbors, and our moms together were Brownie leaders. Lisa's brother was in my class. 

It's always interesting to reconnect with people from the past; this was a good reconnection. Lisa has some pretty strong views, and sometimes she and I have disagreed vehemently to the point where we stopped being friends for a few years. Earlier this year, we reconnected yet again. She was leery, adamantly anti C-vax, sick of people arguing for lockdowns, mandates. And I was like, yep, we'll get along just fine! 

Then she shared this soup recipe, sealing our friendship for life. 

LISA'S BROCCOLI SOUP

2 T. butter 

1/2 chopped onion 

2 T. flour 

3 c. chicken broth 

1 c. shredded carrot 

2 c. chopped broccoli * 

12 oz. evaporated milk or half and half, etc. 

1/4 t. seasoned salt 

1/4 t. cayenne (my own touch!)

4 oz. shredded cheddar 

1/2 c. shredded parmesan 

*I use a 10 oz. bag of frozen broccoli crowns/florets, thawed, and pulsed in the food processor to appropriate soup size. 

Melt butter on med high heat in large pan. Add onion, season with salt and pepper, and saute until onion starts to soften. Whisk in flour and cook a minute or so to blend well and cook flour. Whisk in chicken broth and stir well. Soup should begin to thicken just a bit. Turn down heat, add carrot and broccoli, milk, seasoned salt. Cook until heated through and broccoli and carrot are cooked. Soup will still be a bit thin but should thicken up when cheeses are added. 

Freezes well; reheats well; any leftovers don't last long here!