Cheddar Asparagus Soup

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3 tablespoons butter (3/4 stick)
• 3/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 3/4 cup celery, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 6 cups rich chicken broth, heated to a simmer (preferably homemade)
• 1/2 teaspoon crumbled bay leaf
• 1/4 cup sherry wine
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce
• 1 dash worcestershire sauce
• 1 pinch dry mustard
• fresh ground pepper
• 1 lb small asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch slices
• 10 ounces mild cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh parsley, chopped

Recipe

• 1 melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.
• 2 add onion and celery and cook, stirring, until tender but not browned, about 8 minutes.
• 3 reduce heat to low, add flour and cook, stirring frequently, until frothy, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• 4 blend in chicken stock and bay leaf; reduce heat to medium-low.
• 5 add sherry,hot pepper sauce, worcestershire, dry mustard, and freshly ground pepper to taste and simmer 20 minutes.
• 6 add asparagus and continue cooking until tender, about 10 minutes.
• 7 stir in cheese and parsley and cook until cheese is melted, 5 to 10 more minutes.
• 8 ladle soup into heated bowls and serve immediately.