Ingredients

  • 8 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 large sweet onion
  • 3 large carrots (peeled and chopped)
  • 3 large celery ribs (chopped)
  • 1 red bell pepper (chopped)
  • 2 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
  • 12 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened and cubed
  • 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese

Method

  • Melt 4 tablespoons of Butter in a large pot over medium heat.
  • Add Garlic power, onions, celery and carrots.
  • Cook over medium heat about 8 minutes, or until vegetables are semi-soft.
  • Add Red Pepper and cook another 2-3 minutes.
  • Add chicken broth, stir, place lid on pot and lower heat to low.
  • Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large pot over medium heat.
  • Add flour and stir constantly.
  • Once it is a pasty substance, add milk SLOWLY!
  • Once the milk is incorporated and it looks like a thick gravy, add cream cheese; remove from heat.
  • Remove the lid from the broth and veggie mixture and remove a ladle at a time of the soup and add to the cream cheese mixture, (totaling about 4 ladles).
  • Once the cream cheese mixture has been tempered, add it back into the soup and combine.
  • Add the cheddar and stir until all cheese is melted.