Broccoli Soup

1 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 cups low sodium vegetable broth *
8 cups broccoli florets
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 cup half and half cream
ground black pepper

* Here is a link to my recipe for low sodium vegetable broth: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1235196

Melt 1 tablespoons butter in medium sized stock pot, and saute onion and celery until tender.
Add broccoli and broth, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Puree soup and return to heat.
In small saucepan, over medium-heat melt 2 tablespoons butter, stir in flour and cook for 2 - 3 minutes until flour turns golden brown. Slowly add milk. Stir until thick and bubbly, add cream, and continue stirring until cream is just about to boil, then add to soup. Season with pepper and serve.

Serving Size: 6 1-cup servings

Number of Servings: 6

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user JWARD199.