I hope you will join me this week for Crock Pot Wednesday. Iām really enjoying visiting your blogs and trying out your recipes.
In honor of all that I am thankful for, I am having a little giveaway. One of the giveaway prizes will be given to a randomly generated entry from this weekās CPW. The second will go to the blog receiving the most comments here after you visit it. In other words, after visiting the entries for this weekās CPW, leave a comment on the writerās blog and come back here and tell me which entry you think should get the prize. Base your decision on the likelihood that you are going to try that recipe within the next couple of weeks. If there is a tie in the āvoting,ā I will let Hubby chose a name from the crock pot:) The winners will be announced on next weekās Crock Pot Wednesday post.
Hubby loves my cheese soup; he recently asked me to make up a batch so I am obliging his request. However, since I am trying to use up the items in my freezer before reorganizing it, I am actually making broccoli cheese soup since I seem to have several bags of the frozen chopped variety available. (Wonder what I was thinking when I bought it? Do you ever do that?)
BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP
2 quarts chicken stock, divided (or vegetable)
3/4 cup onions, chopped
3/4 cup celery, chopped
1 1/2 cups carrots, coarsely chopped
16 ounces frozen, chopped broccoli
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds Velveeta, chunked**
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup flour
Place one quart of chicken stock, onions, celery and carrots in the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 1 hour(or LOW for 2 hours). Add the chopped broccoli, garlic powder, red pepper flakes and black pepper. Cook on HIGH for 2 hours . Add the additional quart of chicken stock and the Velveeta. Cook on LOW for another 2 hours to allow the cheese to melt, stirring occasionally. Make a roux of the melted butter and flour; stir into cheese mixture and whisk. Set the slow cooker on WARM until you are ready to eat. The soup will thicken. If it gets thicker than you desire, add warm water. (You can put all of this together in one stage and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours if you really need to do so. I do think it is necessary to stir it occasionally, however.)
We like the texture of the soup to be somewhat chunky. If that bothers you, either blend in the blender or use an immersion blender to smooth it out.. This will tend to thicken the soup, so you may need to add more liquid.
**I sometimes substitute other cheeses for part of the Velveeta. I particularly like Parmesan and Gruyere. I save my Parmesan rinds to throw into the pot when I add the second quart of chicken stock. They never quite melt, but they impart a terrific flavor. All Cheddar tends to make the soup stringy, so I would avoid replacing more than a cup of the cheese with that. Iāve even used shredded cheese blends whenever I have had some that needed to be used. Experiment with different cheeses to see what you prefer.
If you prefer, you can decrease the amount of broccoli to 10 ounces. It just depends on your taste. I know some people add nutmeg and salt, but I never do. The cheese has plenty of salt already (plus, Hubby tends to salt his salt if you know what I mean). I sometimes add rice if I happen to have any leftover.
Linked to:
Souper Sunday with Deb
Menu Plan Monday
Tasty Tuesdays with Jen
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday with Lisa
Tuesdays At the Table with Cole
Tiffanee at One Crazy Cookie has graciously presented me with Nenoās Award. Sheās a new blogging friend. You should visit her blog and introduce yourself:) Here are the requirements that I am to follow:
Neno’s Awardā-Rules and Regulations
1. As a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.
2. To seek the reasons why we all love blogging.
3. Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.
4. Donāt forget to mention the person who gives you the award.
5. Answer the awardās question by writing the reason why you love blogging.
6. Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.
7. Donāt forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.
For me, blogging is a creative outlet that compares to the diaries we all wrote as young girls (and boys) and the journals that many of us kept throughout our adulthood. Dining With Debbie combines my love of cooking and recipe development with my love of writing. I also have a blog just for my grandchildren that I use to share stories and write stories with them. My class blog is just beginning. I hope to be able to encourage young writers to develop their own blog journals. Many will spend time writing at the computer when they would not otherwise do so. Iāve met the most interesting people through blogging, havenāt you? Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your lives.
Iām going to share this award with my Tuesday friends: Jen, Lisa and Cole. I really appreciate all of their hard work with their Tuesday blog events. I hope you will plan to visit each one of them.
I love broccoli soup. I cannot wait to try this one in the crock pot. Thanks so much for the sweet words! Now I have to come up with something for crock pot Wednesday for this week!!!
This sounds delicious, Debbie!!
Thanks for hosting!!
Many blessings!
Congratulations on your beautiful award. That cheese soup would become one of my favorites too.
Sam
Congratulations on your award. The soup sounds delicious.
Debbie, I just wanted to let you know I passed along an award to you. You can find out more at http://happynester.blogspot.com/2009/10/ive-got-mail.html
Thanks Monica
Congrats on your award! I love cooking, so I will have to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week!!
I have intended to participate in your Crockpot Wednesday for a couple of weeks now, but have not been successful. I will try to get it done tomorrow. Thanks for making me feel welcome to participate!
Take care.
Suzanne
And a giveaway, too!! oooooohhhh….
I love cream of broccoli soup! I’ve never tried making it with Velveeta, but it sounds yummy! I’ll have to try it.
Thanks for hosting Crock Pot Wednesday!
Jane
With freezing nights and nippy days, this IS soup season and yours looks excellent. I entered your crockpot wednesday, I’ve never done it before, so I’m not sure if I did it right. Congrats on your award!!
Broccoli and cheese is one of my guilty favs! ONLY 2 lbs of velveeta huh? š
CONGRATS!!! on the AWARD!!!
Cheesy broccoli soup sounds GREAT!!! for tonight or really any night. Geri
I just posted the Chicken and Dumplins recipe.
I vote for the Italian Beef Sandwiches though, that is something I will make as soon as I can pick up some meat on sale and they look perfect for a casual Friday night dinner! Thanks Gina for posting and thanks Debbie for hosting!!
Oh now that I’ve voted I realize that you were doing the contest next week right? Oops, I am still making those sandwiches!
This Broccoli Cheese soup sounds great Debbie. I will definitely be trying it! Your Crock Pot Wednesdays are a wonderful idea and the give-a-way is brilliant.
sounds so good I love fall when all the soup recipes come out thanks
chicken and dumplings from the packet queen gets my vote…left her a comment.
Hi Debbie! This sounds really good! You have a wonderful blog! So glad I found it! I linked up with my Crock Posole recipe.. Very good & very easy!
Stay warm & Cozy!
~ Blessings ~ Teresa
Debbie, I’m always late since I don’t post until Tuesday night (for Wednesday), but, better late than never. Love broccoli cheese soup. May have to try that for a “night before” for Thanksgiving.
Christi
I’m so glad I had a crockpot recipe to share this week!
Your broccoli cheese soup sounds delicious.
Hi Debbie, yes you can absolutely still post your pumpkin recipe! I’m still getting more traffic to that page than anything right now. I guess everyone wants pumpkin recipes. I will have something for Crockpot Wednesdays next week. This week I have scones, but next week I’ll have something. Here is the link to the pumpkin page:
http://frugalhomecooking.blogspot.com/2009/09/recipe-remake-pumpkin-muffins.html
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’ll definitely come by more often as I add more crockpot recipes to the meal plan. I use it a lot as it gets colder, like beef stew this week.
Thanks for stopping by and inviting me over. I am always looking for great crock pot recipes. I’m linking up my Pozole recipe, even though it’s not for the crock pot. I hope that’s all right!
That broccoli soup recipe sounds DELICIOUS!!
Thanks so much for the award; you’re a sweetheart.
Your broccoli cheese soup looks like one we would LOVE! I’m definitely copying the recipe!!! Thanks for visiting my blog and letting me know about these treasures. I can’t wait to brouse through them tomorrow.
blessings to you…
Jennifer
It sure is soup weather now…good on Deb. I linked my chili to Mr Linky and am off to check everyone’s recipes now.
Have a great day!
My vote goes to Ally’s Corner…French Chicken Stew!!!
Hey I made it.. .come join me for Freezer Food Friday!
The broccoli cheese soup looks yummy.. adding it to my to try list.
MJ
Maybe I should have looked at all the other recipes before I added mine. 3 of us posted recipes for Potato Soup…but they are all different and all look good. We are all thinking warm, cozy, comfort food this week! Thanks for letting me join in!
mmmmmmmmmmm!!
me too, love broccolis!! :))
next wednesday, I’m joing!
thank you for passing by, debbie!
baciusss
mmmmmmmmmmm!!
me too, love broccolis!! :))
next wednesday, I’m joing!
thank you for passing by, debbie!
baciusss
Come on over to grab your award!
Lucy Marie’s crock pot pork roast looks awesome. It will be on our menu next week!
Today was a perfect crock pot day here! It’s like the weather & my schedule knew I wanted to start participating here š
And a shameless plug at my own personal weekly event people are more than willing to join in on: DVD Date Night Fridays š
Hi Debbie!! Thank you so much for hosting this great event! I can’t wait to look at all the yummy recipes!! Your soup sounds oh so wonderful! Blessings.
Thank you for stopping by!! I did not make it with a recipe today, but I will try to next week! Thank you for the invitation. Now I’m off to look through your recipes!!
I’ve been busy with my Dad visiting the last two weeks. I missed this one. I love broccoli cheese soup. Thanks. I still need to get me a crock pot! I’m going to copy it right now.
Debbie, thanks so much for stopping by my blog this week. Sorry, it’s taken me so long to get back over here. Swine Flu has struck me and the baby. She’s napping now, as I should be, but I’ve not blogged since posting my recipes to Crock Pot Wednesday, but I posted them early…like Monday or something! Your broccoli cheese soup looks like something I should make for our next soup party. Thanks for sharing!
This soup sounds great too. Since there was no picture I added it to this week’s Souper Sunday round-up post with your other soup. Thanks for contributing both and sorry this didn’t get posted last week since your comment came after that post was up.
Shoot me an email any time you want to have a soup featured and I’ll be able to make sure I get them all.
Thanks!
Deb
So many wonderful sounding recipes. I think I’ll try Jane at Frugal Fine Living’s Pulled Pork.
I wanted to leave my vote (thanks for the reminder…it’s been a rough week) I’d like to vote for Heartnsoul cooking’s (Geri) spicy shredded beef. We like spicy and this recipe seems like something we’d try.
I’m definitely trying MJ’s Baked Apples this week! I already had it on my menu and was trying to figure out how to juggle the cooking times & temps with my oven and now I won’t need to because I can just throw them in the crock!!! HOORAY!!!
Hey hey!! I am going to try 2 your broccoli & cheese soup and Kara’s Blk Bean & Pumpkin Soup! Both sound yummy and I love doing a big pot of soup on Sundays to have for lunches during the week! Thanks!!
The big hit for me is the apple honey tea on Finding Joy in My Kitchen’s site. With 7 kids drinks are always in demand, but we certainly have plenty of apple peels.
Hey Debbie~ I have enjoyed your Crockpot Wed. I added you to my foodie favs list!! I would love to share your Broc Soup recipe on my blog. If that is ok with you? Full Credit to you I would like to post the link to here. Let me know! thanks!!
any advice you can give me I would so appreciate!
I love Broccoli Cheese Soup!