LOW Carb: Creamy-Cheesy Wondersoup

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on 8/30/08 12:39 am, edited 8/30/08 1:58 am - The beautiful, US Virgin Islands......, XX

Ts Creamy-Cheesy WonderSoup

2 cups chopped onions
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon canola or other vegetable oil
2 celery stalks, diced
1 nice sized handful of kale (and no, I can’t give you an exact amount of a handful and don’t sub spinach instead….because the kale will hold its shape, taste etc…)
1 1/4 cup peeled and diced carrots
3 cups Basic Light Vegetable Stock
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup diced red bell peppers
1 cup diced zucchini
1/2 cup fresh or frozen green peas
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 cup 2% milk
1 cup half & half
1 1/2 cup grated Cheddar cheese
2 ounces Neufchatel or cream cheese

(optional add ½ pound of sliced smoked sausage) (it doesn’t have to have it but is nice if you have a family who insists on having meat in the meal)

Directions:

In a large soup pot on medium heat, sauté the onions in the butter and oil for 3 to 4 minutes.
Stir in the celery, cover, and coo****il just soft, stirring occasionally.

Add the carrots, stock, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil; then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes.

With a strainer or slotted spoon, remove about 1 1/2 cups of the cooked vegetables and set aside in a blender or food processor.

Add the green beans, kale, bell peppers, and zucchini to the soup pot and coo****il the green beans are tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the sausage if you decided to add it (optional).

Stir in the peas and parsley, simmer for 2 more minutes, and then remove from the heat.

Discard the bay leaf.

Puree the reserved vegetables with the milk and cheeses to make a smooth sauce.

Stir the sauce into the soup and gently reheat. Serve hot.

This gives you about 12 cups of goodness, and about 3 grams protein/serv with only 5 grams of carbs per serving! This is flavor packed and takes about 45 minutes to make.... You can add or take away any veggies that you don't like...so feel free to change as you wish..... this took me a few years to get just the way my guests love it!

So let me know if you like it!

T.