Chicken Broccoli Cheese Soup

This one is by no means a low fat dish, but I guarantee this will be one of the best broccoli & cheese style soups you will ever experience!

Chicken Broccoli Cheese Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs chicken breast fillet, diced (bite size)
• 2 c water
• 4 tbs "chicken base" (bouillon paste, Walmart or most grocery stores)
• 1 head broccoli (cut down to bite size florets/pieces.)
• 1 stick butter
• 1 tsp black pep
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp Tabasco
• 3/4 tsp sage
• 2 c yellow onion; diced (Valdalia if available)
• 2 c celery
• 3 potatoes (volume = to ave. size pear, quartered lengthwise, sliced 1/4" thick.)
• 1 red bell pepper; diced
• 1 tbs minced garlic
• 3 qt.s 2% milk
• 5 tbs Blond roux ( instructions )

Instructions;

1.) Steam broccoli separately to a soft "al dente" texture; set aside.
2.) In a 6 qt pot, add;

• 2 c yellow onion; diced (Valdalia if available)
• 2 c celery
• 1 stick butter
• 1 tsp black pep
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp Tabasco
• 3/4 tsp sage

3.) Saute' (on medium) until onion is transparent,
4.) Add Garlic, Red Bell Pepper, chicken breast & thoroughly cook thru. (15 min.s)
5.) Add 2 c water & 4 tbs "chicken base" (bouillon paste, Walmart or most grocery stores ) Cook on medium until base is dissolved, reduce heat to low;  add the blond roux & thoroughly mix in.
6.) Add 3 qt.s 2% milk, 1 qt at a time, waiting for each qt to get heated before adding the next.
7.) Add cut potatoes, simmer on low medium until potatoes are tender.
8.) On medium high, add 1 of the following at a time, stirring until melted;

• 1ea. 2 c bag of shredded colby/jack cheese
• 1ea. 2 c bag of shredded cheddar
• 1 16oz American cheese, few slices at a time

9.) On medium high, stirring frequently, bring almost to a boil;
10.) Remove from heat, add broccoli & stir lightly.  Serve with a salad & lots of french bread!! (top each bowl w/ couple crumbled Ritz crackers)

Serves  10 - 14 people pending sides.  Prep. time = about 45 min.s,  Total time = 2.5 to 3 Hrs

Enjoy!!  Todd