Homemade Broccoli Cheese Soup

Homemade Broccoli Cheese Soup

It's cold here in Indiana and has been cold for the last week.  The wind chill has been in the negative digits and today we had a whopping high of 22 degrees.  Last night, Bill went with me to pick up 18 chickens and 3 ducks from a couple that needed to find them a new home.  I offered to take them, but didn't tell Bill about the ducks until we got there.  Long story short, Bill didn't make a fuss over bringing home the ducks, so I thought I'd make him some homemade broccoli soup tonight as a peace offering.  There is nothing like some warm soup to make the cold outside melt away.  Even though this is homemade soup, and not out of a can, it is simple to make.  Serve with a grilled cheese and it's a meal fit for a king!

I used my Pampered Chef Rockcrok Dutch Oven to make this soup.  If you don't have one, you should consider adding this item to you kitchen collection.  I had a party and got my for 60% off.  It's amazing!

 INGREDIENTS:

• 1 to 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 medium chopped onion
• ¼ cup melted butter
• ¼ cup flour
• 3 cups half-and-half cream
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups fresh/or thawed broccoli, chopped to the consistency you prefer for the soup 
• 2 cans (10 3/4 oz) Campbell's Cheddar Cheese Soup
• 8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper to taste
• 
  

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Saute the onion in 1 to 2 tablespoons of melted butter and set aside.
   
   In your Rockcrok, or a large pot, whisk together the melted butter and flour over medium heat for about about 4 minutes.
   
2. Next, slowly whisk in the half and half and chicken stock. Let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
   
3. Add the broccoli and onions. Let them simmer on medium heat for about 25 minutes until the broccoli is tender.
   
4. Add salt and pepper to taste and garnish with sharp cheddar cheese. 
   

Joy Jars

A very simple Joy Jar for 2015

I admit that I am not a crafty person.  I enjoy crafts, but just to come up with stuff on my own...no way!  My friend Ginger, who is also the Pastor's wife, is extremely creative and came up with these Joy Jars for 2015.  Last Sunday, she passed out a jar to each family.  We are to take these jars and write good things that happen to our family (or personally) on little pieces of paper throughout 2015.  Then on New Year's Eve (December 31, 2015) we will meet back at the church, share a meal, and then share our joy's with each other over the past year.

Examples of items that you can put in your Joy Jar:

• Surprise gifts
• Accomplished goals
• Laugh Out Loud moments
• Daily blessings
• It was a God thing
• The beauty of nature
• Memories worth saving
• Answered prayers
• AND MORE!!!

She even created a Facebook page for it!  Instead of focusing on the negative, which we all do so often, let's make it a point to write down our joy's and fill our jar!