Copy Cat Panera Bread, Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe

I love soup.

During the fall and winter

{or let's be honest, any time of the year}

I could eat it everyday.

Add a yummy salad and a baguette

and I'm in food heaven.

The other day Aaron, the kids and I went to Panera Bread for dinner.

I got their broccoli cheese soup (which I haven't had in a while)

and after the first bite I knew I was in trouble.

Now I pretty much crave it daily.

It's that good!

So, what did I do as soon as I got home?

Went on the Internet to find a Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese soup copy cat recipe, of course!

I know, I'm crazy like that.

Anyways, I found one that was almost as good as the real one from Panera Bread.

I thought I'd share it with you guys.

Enjoy!

Copy Cat Panera Bread

Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

-1 tablespoon butter (for onions)

-1/2 medium onion, chopped

-1/4 cup butter

-1/4 cup flour

-2 cups half and half

-2 cups chicken stock

(I added another cup or more of milk)

-1/2 pound broccoli cut up small (now that I'm writing this out for you guys, I realized that I read it wrong and added more broccoli then I should have. Opps!)

-1 cup carrots, julienned (about 1 carrot. I just shredded it with a peeler.)

-8 ounces grated sharp cheddar

-salt and pepper to taste

-1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Step 1:

Saute onion in butter

(I also added some of the broccoli stock to soften it up a bit).

Set aside.

Step 2:

Melt butter in pot.

Add flour to melted butter,

and whisk continuously over medium heat for 3-5 minutes.

Step 3:

Stirring continuously, slowly add the half and half.

Add the chicken stock, whisking all the time.

Let simmer for 20 minutes.

Step 4:

Add the broccoli, carrots and onion.

Cook over low heat until the veggies are tender.

Step 5:

Add salt and pepper (the soup should be thickened by now).

Add cheese and stir until well blended.

Step 6:

Stir in nutmeg

and serve!

Yumm!!

*I have a question for all of you who know much more about cooking then I do....

It seemed like the soup wasn't quite as smooth as I would have liked. I think it had to do something with the flour not incorporating all the way.

Does anyone know why that might happen?

I only cooked the flour and butter mixture for 3 minutes instead of 5. Maybe that wasn't long enough? Thanks for your thoughts!