CHEESE BASED SOUPS RECIPES

Steps:

• In a 3 quart saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter or margarine. Add onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour and cook until flour has blended with onion mixture.
• Add chicken broth and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is slightly thickened. Add milk and heat just to boiling, stirring constantly.
• In covered blender at medium speed, blend about 1/4 of soup mixture at a time until smooth. Return to saucepan and, over medium heat, heat just to boiling. Remove from heat.
• With wire whisk or slotted spoon, stir in cheese until melted. If cheese does not melt completely, cook over very low heat about 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Steps:

• Place stock, onion, carrot, celery, bell pepper, butter, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH until vegetables are tender, about 3 hours.
• Whisk Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and 1 cup of the milk into mixture in slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH until cheese is melted and smooth, whisking occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Whisk together cornstarch and remaining ¼ cup milk in a small bowl until smooth. Whisk into soup in slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH, whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Slice ½ inch from the top of each pretzel bun using a serrated knife. Scoop out centers of bun bottoms, leaving a ¼-inch-thick shell. Ladle soup evenly into bun bottoms; garnish with bacon and scallions. Serve alongside bun tops.