Recipe - Broccoli Soup

Broccoli Soup

I love cream of broccoli soup but let's face it, it's really not so good for you.  This is an uber-light version of it that only has 69 calories per cup.  That's awesome!  And it tastes great too!

1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 stalk celery
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 tsp dried thyme
8 cups finely chopped broccoli
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1/2 cup half & half
salt & pepper

Saute onions, celery and garlic in butter and olive oil until onions are translucent.  Add thyme and broccoli and cook until broccoli is bright green (5 min).  Add stock and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and if you like, run thru soup with a stick blender (if you chopped the broccoli fine enough, you really don't have to do this step).  Add half and half and salt and pepper.  Keep over low heat just to warm thru.

P.S.  You can do this same recipe with 6 cups of peas instead of the broccoli and 3 cups broth instead of 4 -  it is also quite tasty!