Broccoli, Bacon, and Cheese Soup!

I made this most delicious soup last night for dinner,  Broccoli, Bacon and Cheese Soup!  I have always wanted to make a broccoli and cheese soup, and the weather yesterday was perfect for soup! I love going to Panera, and whenever we go, I always order the Broccoli and Cheese Soup, and it's so yummy. So I came up with this recipe, and really hoped it would come out great, and it sure did! My whole family loved it, Becca had two bowls, and even little Davey loved it too....especially since it had BACON in it.....Davey just loves BACON, who doesn't?

This soup is so easy, but it's not one of those soups where you start in the morning and simmer on the stove all day long.  It cooks up in like 1/2 hour, so it's so easy to make. 

Here.s the recipe, ENJOY!

Broccoli Bacon and Cheese Soup

3 cups of broccoli florets cut into small pieces
3 cups milk (I used 2% and it came out GREAT!)
2 cups chicken stock (or 2 cups hot water with 2 TBS chicken bouillon)
1/2 cup flour
6 TBS butter
2 tsp. salt and pepper
2 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
about 5 slices of bacon fried and crumbled
2 cups Cheddar shredded Cheddar cheese

Frying the bacon.  I fry bacon in the oven.  I put the slices on a large cookie sheet lined with foil, and bake in the oven for 10 minutes or so on 375.  Drain on paper towels. 

Cut up the broccoli florets and add to a medium size pot with water and cook for about 5 minutes until a little tender.  Put aside and make the SOUP!

In a large SAUCE pot, on medium/high heat, melt the butter and then add the flour stir, do not let it burn, whisk for about 1 minute.  Add the milk, and chicken stock, keep whisking you want to incorporate the flour mixture into the milk and stock mixture, and you don't want this to burn, then lower heat to med/low.  Add 2 tsp salt and pepper, and the nutmeg.  Whisk until this comes to a boil and thickens will take about 7 minutes or so. When thick, take off heat and add the cheese, keep whisking add the broccoli, and crumbled bacon.  Taste it, what does it need?  More salt and pepper or nutmeg?  Simmer on low for 15 minutes or so.  Eat right away, so delicious!  YUMMO!