Broccoli Cheese Soup

One my family's favorites!
From Sariah Bishop

Serves 4

Ingredients:
3 T butter (unsalted)
2 T butter, cut into pieces (unsalted)
1 c chopped onion
1/2 t salt
1/4 t white pepper & pinch nutmeg
1/2 t minced garlic
1/2 t thyme
3 T flour
3 c chicken stock
1 (16 oz) package frozen broccoli
1/2 c milk
1 1/4 c cheddar cheese

Instructions
In medium pot, melt 3 T butter over med- high heat. Add onions, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and cook, stirring until soft. Add garlic and thyme cook, stirring until fragrant. Add flour and cook for 2 mins. Slowly add chicken stock, whisking constantly and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened. Add broccoli and cook, stirring until tender. Removed pot from heat and puree with hand- held immersion blender (if desired. I skipped this step and it still tasted fine, but I like bigger bits of broccoli in my soup). Add milk and bring to bare simmer to heat through. Add cheese, cook over low heat until melted. Add 2 T cold butter, melt in soup. Serve & enjoy!

For freezer meal simply defrost and slowly reheat in pot.