Happy Labor Day! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. I accomplished my goal of spending time relaxing, headed to the beach, and indulged in a little foodie adventure. It was during this food adventure that I was able to sneak by my parent's house to do a little laundry and run a few errands in the area. Of course, while there, I was able to get my paws on the latest recipe to come out of my parent's kitchen.

This one is a keeper. I can say it's "better than Panera's broccoli cheddar." The velvety texture and hearty ingredients make for the perfect weeknight meal, check out the recipe below:

Ingredients:

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 1/4 C all-purpose flour

• 2 C half-and-half

• 3 C low-sodium chicken broth

• 2 bay leaves

• 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

• 4 C broccoli florets (about 1 head)

• 1 large carrot, diced

• 2 1/2 C (about 8 oz) grated sharp white and yellow cheddar cheese,

Directions:

Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes, then gradually whisk in the half-and-half until smooth. Add the chicken broth, bay leaves and nutmeg, then season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, until thickened, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the bread bowls: Using a sharp knife, cut a circle into the top of each loaf, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Remove the bread top, then hollow out the middle with a fork or your fingers, leaving a thick bread shell.

Add the broccoli and carrot to the broth mixture and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. Puree the soup in batches in a blender until smooth; you'll still have flecks of carrot and broccoli. Return to the pot. (Or puree the soup in the pot with an immersion blender.)

Add the cheese to the soup and whisk over medium heat until melted. Add up to 3/4 cup water if the soup is too thick. Ladle into bowls and garnish with croutons.
 

xoxo,

Kelly