Wow - I actually made some from scratch! And it was really good too! Boy, it is time consuming though. I had to let it simmer all afternoon while I did other things. Here is how I did it:
Large dutch oven
6 cups water
Celery - 1-2 stalks cut up
Onions 1-1/2 cups cut up
Bell peppers cut up (mine were roasted)
(all of these veggies can be fresh or frozen)
2 teaspoons salt
garlic to taste
pepper to taste
2 cups milk
1/2 cup flour
1-1/2 cups well chopped broccoli florets, steamed
Cook celery, onion and peppers in water until they are very soft. Allow them to cool and lift out of cooking water - reserve water. Using a blender or food processor, puree all and put the puree through a sieve back into the cooking water. Discard solids. Return to low heat. Add 1/2 stick of butter, 2 teaspoons salt, garlic to taste. Mix 1/2 cup of flour in 1/2 cup of milk and add to soup pot, stirring constantly. Add 1-1/2 cups milk while stirring. Keep heat on low, stirring occasionally until soup develops body (slightly thickened).
Much better than what comes in a can!
