Broccoli- Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Soup

I LOVE Broccoli! You can bake it, fry it, sauté it...the possibilities are endless. On top of that, it is so so so good for you! Broccoli is very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Selenium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium and Manganese.

In an article published on cnn.com titled "Broccoli beats most other veggies in health benefits" details the health benefits of broccoli and how it can help you fight some serious diseases.

It's true In the category of most healthful vegetable, this cruciferous contender wins all the top honors.This past February, when the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a paper that listed foods most likely to prevent colon cancer, what stood out Broccoli. Scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston published an article in the same journal last October and noted that broccoli, along with spinach, helped to minimize risk for cataracts.When another team of Harvard scientists looked at how diet might protect against stroke, broccoli's benefits again came to the fore, in research published in the October 6, 1999 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

When it comes to basic nutrients, broccoli is a mother lode. Ounce for ounce, boiled broccoli has more vitamin C than an orange and as much calcium as a glass of milk, according to the USDAs nutrient database. One medium spear has three times more fiber than a slice of wheat bran bread. Broccoli is also one of the richest sources of vitamin A in the produce section.

For the rest of this article go here


Broccoli Fun Fact: In Treehouse of Horror XI, Homer Simpson is killed by eating broccoli.

But don't let that fool you. Broccoli is seriously a super food!
OK- enough with the educational stuff and on the the recipe.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1-2lbs fresh broccoli, chopped
• 4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 pound shredded medium cheddar cheese
• 2 cups milk (or half and half for a richer soup)
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 cup water

Directions

1.In a stockpot, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic in butter until softened. Stir in broccoli, and sauté for 5 min. Cover with chicken broth. Simmer until broccoli is tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

2.Reduce heat and add the in milk.

3.In a small bowl, stir cornstarch into water until dissolved. Stir into soup; cook, stirring frequently, until thick.

4.Once the soup is thick, add the shredded cheese a handful at a time. Do not add the next handful until the previous cheese that was added is completely melted and combined. Heat through and serve. Garnish with sour cream and extra shredded cheese of desired.

This recipe is SO good! Even my picky 3 yr and 5 yr olds LOVED it! TRY IT!!!

I served this soup with 30 min rolls that I made from scratch. Just like the name says, the rolls took 30 min! I'll post the recipe if someone out there wants it.



Tomorrow's Vegetable: Mexican Squash