Cheddar N Broccoli Toppers Food

ALMOST-FAMOUS BROCCOLI-CHEDDAR SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes, then gradually whisk in the half-and-half until smooth. Add the chicken broth, bay leaves and nutmeg, then season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, until thickened, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the bread bowls: Using a sharp knife, cut a circle into the top of each loaf, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Remove the bread top, then hollow out the middle with a fork or your fingers, leaving a thick bread shell.
• Add the broccoli and carrot to the broth mixture and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. Puree the soup in batches in a blender until smooth; you'll still have flecks of carrot and broccoli. Return to the pot. (Or puree the soup in the pot with an immersion blender.)
• Add the cheese to the soup and whisk over medium heat until melted. Add up to 3/4 cup water if the soup is too thick. Ladle into the bread bowls and garnish with cheese.

THE BEST BROCCOLI-CHEDDAR SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes, then gradually whisk in the half-and-half until smooth. Add the chicken broth, broccoli, bay leaves, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and few grinds of black pepper Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the broth has thickened and the broccoli is very tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prick the potato all over with a fork and put on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high until tender, flipping halfway through, about 6 minutes. Let cool, then peel. Use a fork or potato masher to mash until crumbly.
• Reserve 2 cups of the soup in a liquid measuring cup and discard the bay leaves. Let the remaining hot soup cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer it to a blender, filling no more than halfway. Add the mashed potato. Remove the center cap from the lid and place it on the blender. Cover the lid with a folded kitchen towel to catch splatters, and pulse until very smooth.
• Stir the pureed soup and reserved 2 cups of soup back into the pot. Whisk in the cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into serving bowls and top with more shredded Cheddar.

ROASTED CHEDDAR BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Cut 1 large head broccoli into long spears. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil on a baking sheet; season with salt. Roast at 450 degrees F until almost tender, 15 minutes. Toss 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably panko) with 1 cup grated sharp cheddar, 1 bunch sliced scallions, 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of nutmeg. Sprinkle on the broccoli and roast 15 more minutes.

CHEDDAR CHEESE AND BROCCOLI APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375.
• Grease a 9x9x2" pan.
• Mix the broccoli, corn, onion and walnuts.
• Place in the pan.
• Beat the remaining ingredients except for the cheese until smooth, stopping frequently to scrape down the sides of the mixer if necessary.
• Pour evenly into the pan on top of the vegetable mixture.
• Bake until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 23-25 minutes.
• Sprinkle with the cheese.
• Bake until the cheese is melted, 2-3 minutes longer.
• Cool for 30 minutes, then cut into triangles or squares.

BROCCOLI AND CHEDDAR SOUP

Steps:

• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and translucent, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add broccoli, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is bright green and slightly tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Using a large cooking spoon, transfer broccoli mixture to a medium bowl and set aside.
• Heat remaining 3 tablespoons butter in the same pot over medium heat (don't worry about any remaining broccoli bits). Add flour and whisk constantly, cooking until the mixture has turned a pale golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in chicken broth until no lumps remain (it'll thicken considerably at first), followed by half-and-half. Bring to a simmer and stir in cheese, nutmeg and all but 1 cup of the reserved broccoli mixture.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid has thickened and reduced by about 1/4 and the broccoli is completely tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Using a hand blender, purée the soup to desired consistency. (Some like to leave bits of broccoli in there. It is up to you how smooth or chunky the soup is.) Alternatively, transfer to a blender and purée to desired consistency.
• Season soup with salt and pepper, and divide among bowls. Top with remaining 1 cup broccoli, more Cheddar (if you like), and lots of freshly ground pepper.

BROCCOLI WITH CHEDDAR CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Fill a medium saucepan with 1 inch of water and place a steamer inside. Bring the water to a boil, place the broccoli in the steamer, reduce the heat to medium, cover and steam until tender and bright green, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the broccoli to a bowl and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Top the broccoli with the Cheddar Cheese Sauce, or serve it on the side.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until foamy. Spoon the flour over the butter and cook, while stirring, until the flour becomes pasty. Pour in the milk while whisking and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a medium simmer and cook for 5 to 8 minutes. Slowly add the cheese by handfuls and stir with a wooden spoon until melted and smooth.

CHEDDAR 'N BROCCOLI TOPPERS

Steps:

• Arrange crackers on large microwavable plate. Top each cracker evenly with broccoli and cheese.
• Microwave on HIGH 1 minute; rotate plate 1/4 turn. Microwave an additional 10 to 20 seconds or until cheese melted.
• Serve immediately.

BROCCOLI-CHEDDAR POCKETS

Steps:

• Bring a saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli and cook 1 minute. Drain and rinse under cold water until cool; pat dry. Mix the broccoli, cheddar, sour cream and chives in a bowl until combined, then squeeze the mixture together with your hands to make it compact.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and brush a baking sheet lightly with vegetable oil. On a floured surface, roll out the dough and fill the dinner pockets. (See Cook's Note for step-by-step directions.)
• Place the pockets seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Beat the egg and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl; brush the pockets with the egg wash. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

BROCCOLI CHOWDER WITH CHEDDAR TOASTS

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat until it renders slightly, about 2 minutes. Add the onion, garlic and celery seed and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Scatter the flour over the mixture and stir to coat. Gradually add the broth and the milk, whisking until smooth.
• Add the potatoes and sliced broccoli stem; increase the heat to medium and simmer, covered, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add the broccoli florets and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Continue cooking, uncovered, at a rapid simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, position a rack in the upper part of the oven and preheat the broiler to high. Spread the mustard on each piece of baguette and top with a cheddar slice. Place on a baking sheet and broil until the cheese melts; serve with the soup.

BROCCOLI AND CHEESE TOPPED POTATOES

Steps:

• Pierce potatoes several times with fork. Place in microwave oven on paper towel. Microwave on HIGH 15 minutes or just until softened. Wrap in paper towels; let stand 5 minutes.
• Bring water to a boil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add broccoli. Cook 5 minutes or until broccoli is crisp-tender. Drain. Add milk, cottage cheese, mustard and red pepper flakes to broccoli in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; remove from heat.
• Combine 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese and flour in medium bowl. Toss to coat cheese with flour; add to broccoli mixture. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until cheese is melted and mixture is thickened.
• Cut potatoes open. Divide broccoli mixture evenly among potatoes. Sprinkle with remainig 1/4 cup cheddar cheese.

BROCCOLI CHEESE POTATO TOPPER

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, combine soup, cheese, mustard, and pepper.
• Heat over low heat until cheese is melted.
• Add broccoli and heat through.
• Serve over baked potatoes.
• Sometimes I add chopped ham, bacon, or chicken.