Cheesy Vegetable Chowder

Seriously, we have soup about once a week here, whether it is hot or cold. I love soup for supper, it is comfort food to me. The kids are not super excited about this tradition, but they get to pick their own meals a few times a week, so they have to put up with the other night! :) I liked the fact that this soup was low in calories and was a meatless meal for once. I don't do a lot of them since Josh is not a big fan, but I like to throw them in here and there to lower the grocery bill a bit! I doubled this recipe, thinking that everyone was going to love it and that was not such a great idea. Although I loved it a lot and they tolerated it... it meant that all the leftovers were mine to eat. That does not work so well! I would definitely make it again, but not double it the next time.

Cheesy Vegetable Chowder
(recipe found on pinterest via luluthebaker.blogspot.ca)

2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup finely chopped carrot
1 celery stick, finely chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
4 cups chicken broth
2 large baking potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 cup water
2/3 cup milk
2 cups chopped broccoli
2 heaping cups shredded cheddar cheese

Melt the butter in a large soup pot. Add onions, carrots and celery and saute over medium heat until tender. Add garlic and cook 1 or 2 additional minutes. Add chicken broth and potatoes, bring to a boil, and cook until potatoes are tender. Mix flour with water, add and simmer until soup is slightly thickened. Add milk and broccoli and cook until broccoli is just tender and soup is heated through. Stir in cheese, allow to melt, and serve.