CAULIFLOWER SOUP

recipe and photo from The Pioneer Woman

recipe and photographic directions found HERE.

INGREDIENTS 

1 stick Butter, Divided  
½ whole Onion, Finely Diced (I used a whole onion)  
1 whole Carrot Finely Diced  
1 stalk Celery, Finely Diced (I used 2 stalks)  
1 whole (to 2 Whole) Cauliflower Heads, roughly Chopped (I used 1&1/2 heads but would be happier with two)  
2 Tablespoons Fresh Or Dried Parsley (chopped)  
2 quarts Low-sodium Chicken Broth Or Stock  
6 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour  
2 cups Whole Milk (I used skim milk)  
1 cup Half-and-half  
2 teaspoons To 4 Teaspoons Salt, To Taste  
1 cup (heaping) Sour Cream, Room Temperature (I forgot the sour cream this time and it was still good.)

DIRECTIONS

•In a large soup pot or dutch oven, melt 4 tablespoons butter (I only used 2T butter). Add the onion and cook for a few minutes, or until it starts to turn brown.

•Add the carrots and celery and cook an additional couple of minutes. Add cauliflower and parsley and stir to combine.

•Cover and cook over very low heat for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, pour in chicken stock or broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer.

•In a medium saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Mix the flour with the milk and whisk to combine. Add flour-milk mixture slowly to the butter, whisking constantly (until thickened).

•Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup half-and-half. Add mixture to the simmering soup. Allow to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Check seasoning and add more salt or pepper if necessary.

•Just before serving, place the sour cream in a serving bowl or soup tureen. Add two to three ladles of hot soup into the tureen and stir to combine with the sour cream. Pour in remaining soup and stir.

Serve immediately.

my daughter, who's favorite food is mac 'n cheese, told me that this soup is better than mac 'n cheese and is now her favorite food. and that's sayin' a lot! it didn't take long to make either. well, considering i chopped up my veggies early in the day and left them in plastic-wrapped bowls until i was ready to cook dinner. and we ate this soup with homemade breadsticks. yummm!


–Shanda Lyman