Yesterday I told you about my first pie, I also recently made my first soup... from scratch... by myself.

It was the most delicious soup I have ever eaten. I really love Panera's Broccoli Cheddar soup. We've tried some canned versions, which have been terrible. For a while, we talked about making our own, but never really searched out a recipe. I don't remember exactly how I came across the recipe, but when I read it a few weeks ago, it just sounded perfect.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup by Not without Salt

Start with some butter in your pot:

Prepare the broccoli stems and onions, and the garlic and parsley:

Prepare the broccoli florets, butter and flour:

Measure out stock. I used homemade turkey stock that's been in the freezer since Thanksgiving:

Add broccoli stalks and onions to butter:

Saute until onions are tender:

Add stock and bring to a boil. As soon as the stock hit the heat, the entire kitchen smelled like Thanksgiving:

Reduce heat to a simmer:

Grate the cheese and measure out the cream:

When the broccoli stalks are tender, blend everything until smooth:

Add flour and butter mixture to thicken, and add cream:

Add broccoli florets and cook to near desired doneness:

Add in cheese until get ready to eat!

Yum yum yummy!!!!!!

I think the two things that made this soup incredible was the cheese and the stock. We used really good Cabot extra sharp cheddar. The stock was homemade and turkey based. I want to make the soup again, but we're out of homemade stock and it is still to hot outside to convince Kevin to cook a turkey just to make stock. Even reheated the next day, the soup was amazing. I could eat this every day all day long.