Panera's Broccoli Cheddar Soup

 original recipe found here

• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups half-and-half cream
• 2 cups chicken stock or broth
• 1/2 lb broccoli, chopped
• 1 cup carrot, grated
• 8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Melt the 1/4 cup butter. Sprinkle the flour over the melted butter. Cook and stir over medium heat for 1-2 minutes.
2. Whisk in the half & half and chicken stock.
3. Add the broccoli and carrots. Cook over low heat for 20-25 minutes or until the broccoli and carrots are tender.
4. Add salt and pepper. You can leave the soup chunky or blend about 1 cup of the soup and stir it in for a smoother soup (that's what I do). Return to low heat and add the cheese. If your heat is too high your soup can get grainy.

Potato, Corn & Carrot Chowder

 original recipes found here

3 lbs potatoes, diced
1 16-ounce package frozen corn

1 16-ounce package frozen carrots
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

12 cups chicken stock
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons salted butter
1/2  cup heavy cream

1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

--Place veggies in the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle flour over top, and then stir to coat veggies with flour. 

--Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours. Stir in butter and heavy cream. Stir in cheese if desired.

--Optional toppings: bacon, sour cream, cheese

Beef Barley Soup--Slow Cooker

 Original recipe found here

•   2 pounds stew meat (nicely marbled beef chunks) 
•   salt and pepper 
•   2 tablespoons oil 
•   8 cups water 
•   2 cups beef broth  
•   2 cups celery, chopped 
•   2 onions, chopped 
•   5 cloves garlic, minced 
•   1 large potato, peeled and shredded, about 2 cups 
•   3-4 large carrots, peeled and shredded, about 2 cups 
•   1 cup pearl barley, rinsed

1. Generously salt and pepper the beef. In frying pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
2. When it is very hot, add about 1/3 of the meat. Brown for about 1-2 minutes, then turn to brown the other side. Remove the browned meat to a large slow cooker.
3. Repeat with remaining meat in 2 more batches (if you add it all at once it will steam the meat instead of browning it--not what you want).
4. Add 2 cups of beef broth to the pan and bring to a boil. Stir up all the browned bits. Add this and the remaining 8 cups of water to the crock pot.
5. Add celery, onions, and garlic to the slow cooker and stir.
6. Cook on low for about 6 hours, or 3 hours on high. Add the potatoes and carrots and cook for another hour.
7. 
   
   Add the barley and simmer for another hour or so.

Bacon and Brussels Sprouts Soup

Original recipe found here

Ingredients

• 3 slices smoked bacon
• 1/2 onion small/medium
• 9 oz potatoes
• 9 oz Brussels sprouts
• 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock, possibly a little more
• salt and pepper to taste

To top

• 4 slices smoked bacon bacon, in small slices

Instructions

1. Cut the bacon into slices and put into a pan over a medium heat. Dice the onion and once the fat starts to render from the bacon, add the onion to the pan. Cook, stirring regularly for 2-3 minutes.
2. Meanwhile peel the potatoes and dice. Take the outer layer and ends off the Brussel sprouts and cut in half. Add both to the pan, stir, then cover and reduce heat slightly.
3. Allow the vegetables to sweat for around 10 minutes until the potato is tender to a knifepoint, stirring occasionally. Don't worry if things stick to the bottom of the pan and color a bit, it all adds to the flavor, just don't let them burn.
4. Add the stock, and some salt and pepper to taste to the pan (bear in mind you have bacon in there so you won't need much salt). Cover and bring to a boil then simmer for around 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, put the bacon for the topping in a small skillet/frying pan and cook over a medium heat. Continue to cook until crispy, stirring now and then.
6. Remove the soup pan from the heat and puree the soup in a blender/with an immersion blender.
7. Serve the soup with the crispy bacon on top.

DELICIOUS Chili

*adapted from bettycrocker.com

2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 lage onion
3 cloves minced garlic
3 28-oz cans crushed tomatoes
2 cans chili beans in sauce
2 TBSP chili powder
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
2 TBSP brown sugar

-add ingredients into slow cooker
-cook on low for 6 hours(ish) or on high for 3 hours(ish)

Crockpot Potato Chowder

Ingredients:

1 Bag Hash browns (shredded and frozen)

6 cups chicken broth

16 oz bag of frozen carrots

1 can corn

3-4 cups ham, cubed into small pieces 

1 block cream cheese

-Cook on low for 6-7 hours.

-One hour before it is finished add a brick of cream cheese, let it warm for about 20  minutes, then stir well too combine with the other ingredients. 

Top with cheese, bacon bits, etc and enjoy!

Potato-Leek Soup with Ham--Our Best Bites

4-5 medium leeks
3 TBSP butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 medium diced white potatoes
4 cups chicken broth
2 bay leaves (optional-I never use bay leaves)
1 tsp dried thyme
8 oz ham, diced (about 2 cups)
3/4 cup cream (I usually use fat free evaporated milk)
1-2 TBSP minced fresh parsley OR 1 1/2 tsp dried parsley

1) Slice ends off leeks just above the root and discard root. Cut leeks in half lengthwise. Starting at the white end, slice the leeks crosswise in 1/4 inch slices. Stop slicing when the leaves turn from pale green to dark green, and discard the dark green leaves. Place sliced leeks (about 2 cups) in a bowl of cold water and stir with fingers to loosen layers and remove any dirt. Drain and set aside.

2) Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add leeks, garlic, salt, and pepper, and cook 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until leeks are wilted and fragrant. Add potatoes, broth, bay leaves, and thyme. Bring to a simmer and cover pot. Simmer on medium-low heat about 15 minutes until potatoes are fork tender. Mash the potatoes slightly. Add ham and simmer 5 more minutes. Add cream (or evaporated milk), parsley, and additional salt and pepper to taste. Heat until warmed through. Remove bay leaves and serve.

Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup

*adapted from utah.todaysmama.com*

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup finely diced celery

1 cup finely diced onions

1 cup finely diced carrots

1 tsp dried Oregano

1 Tbsp dried Basil

2-14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes with juice

4 cups chicken broth

ROUX:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated

1-12 oz. can of fat free evaporated milk

1.  Heat oil in 4 quart soup pot.  Add celery, onions and carrots.  Saute 5 minutes.  Add basil, oregano, bay leaf, tomatoes, and chicken broth.  Bring it to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until carrots are tender (15 minutes).

2.  While soup simmers, prepare a roux.  Melt butter over low heat, add flour and cook, stirring constantly with a whisk, 5-7 minutes. Add salt and pepper and stir about 30 seconds. Slowly whisk in 1 cup hot soup.  Add another 3 cups and whisk until smooth.  Add back into soup pot.

3.  Simmer, stirring constantly, until soup begins to thicken.  Add Parmesan cheese and whisk to blend. Stir in evaporated milk. Simmer over low heat 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

4) Turn off heat and blend with an immersion blender until it's the consistency that you want.

Tomato Basil Soup

2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, grated
1/4 cup butter
28 oz can FIRE ROASTED tomatoes (Hunts or Muir Glen in Natural Foods Section)
1/4 cup FRESH basil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4-1/2 cup cream (optional)
tortellini, cooked (optional)

1) Saute onion and carrot in butter until soft.
2) Add other ingredients and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
3) Using an immersion blender, puree the soup (if you use a regular blender, do it in small batches).
4) When serving, put a few pieces of tortellini in the bowl, and then add soup. Drizzle some cream and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Cheeseburger Soup

*Recipe from my friend, Lisa*

1 pound ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
4 tablespoons butter
3 cups chicken broth
4 cups cubed potatoes (or frozen hash browns)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups cubed Cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup sour cream

1. In a large pot, melt 1 tablespoon butter or margarine over medium heat: cook and stir vegetables and beef , until beef is brown.
2. Stir in basil and parsley. Add broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil, then simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10-12 minutes.
3. Melt the remainder of butter and stir in flour. Add the milk, stirring until smooth.
4. Gradually add milk mixture to the soup, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Stir in cheese. When cheese is melted, add sour cream and heat through. Do not boil.

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

*adapted from copykat,com*

2 cups chicken, cooked and diced (dark meat tastes the best)
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 quart half and half
3 cups chicken broth (you may want to add more broth for a thinner soup at the very end)
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 cup carrots, finely shredded
1 cup onion, finely diced
1 cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon extra virgin oil
1/2 teaspoon parsley

1 pound mini gnocchi

Sauté the onion, celery, and garlic in the butter and olive oil, over medium heat. When the onion becomes translucent, add the flour and make a roux, stirring until flour is completely mixed in. Let the butter and flour mixture cook for about a minute before adding 1 quart of half and half.

Cook gnocchi according to package directions.

Into the roux add in the carrots and chicken. Once the mixture becomes thick add the chicken broth. Once the mixture thickens again, add the cooked gnocchi, spinach, and seasonings. Simmer on LOW heat until soup is heated through, stirring every minute. *You can add more chicken broth for a thinner soup at this point. It will also help cool the soup.*