Potato and Broccoli Soup in Bread Bowls

As winter winds down and spring approaches, its interesting the different dishes that I like to make. On one hand, I'm feeling summery and am once again exploring fruits, fresh veggies, and cold salads. On the other hand, the nights and some days are still really cold, so we are still enjoying hearty and warm foods, like this soup.


I found this on a food blog somewhere about a year ago, but have tweaked it quite a bit to make it both healthier and tastier. This is thick and yummy soup, and is one of our favorites. The best part is, that thanks to the Mrs. Dash in it, it is no-salt added, but has tons of flavor. I always serve it in bread bowls and save the tops for dipping in the leftovers. This time I used a rosemary and olive oil bread and it was to die for with this soup!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cans low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 tsp(ish) olive oil
  
• 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 medium broccoli tree, chopped
• 1 cup milk
  
• 1/4 cup light cream
• 1 bag (2 cups) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 tbsp Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb Seasoning Blend
  
• Bread bowls for serving

Directions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and 1/2 cup of the broth. Set aside. This will be used later to thicken the soup.
2. In a large stockpot, saute the onion in a small amount of olive oil until soft.
3. Add remaining broth, potatoes, and broccoli.
4. Bring to a nice simmer over medium heat and cook uncovered for about 10 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
5. Cover and simmer another 10 minutes.
6. Pour in the flour mixture and stir in. Continue to stir over medium-high heat until soup thickens.
7. Pour in milk and light cream, stirring to mix.
8. Add cheese and stir until melted.
   
9. Stir in Mrs. Dash.
10. Serve warm in bread bowls.

One note about this recipe. Its much easier to stay on top of the steps if you prep everything beforehand and only have to throw things into the pot. Overall though, its a very easy recipe to make!