Broccoli Cheese Soup

1/4 cup butter
1/2 chopped onion
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup flour
1 cup half-and-half
1 cup milk
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 lb fresh broccoli, chopped
1 cup carrot, shredded and chopped
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese**
4 ounces grated Colby jack cheese**
Salt and pepper to taste

Sauté the onion and garlic in the butter over medium heat. Add in the flour, stirring constantly. Add in the half and half, milk, and chicken stock. Bring to almost a boil.
Add the broccoli and carrots. Simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes.
Season the soup with the saltand pepper. Stir in the cheeses (and you can play around with the amounts; use however much or little you like) and let simmer for 10 minutes longer before serving.

**I just used a colby and monterey jack cheese blend and it was amazing!

Tortellini Sausage Soup

1 lb italian sausage 4 cloves pressed garlic 1 onion diced 1/2 cup water 2 cans chicken broth 1/2 cup apple cider 1 16oz can diced tomatoes 1 8oz can tomato sauce 1 cup sliced carrots 1 tsp dried basil 1 tsp dried oregano 2 medium zucchini, grated 1 8-10oz package cheese tortellini 2 Tbs dried parsley In a soup pot, cook sausage over medium heat, stirring frequently. If the sausage is pretty fatty, drain off the fat about half way through cooking. Meanwhile, chop onions and garlic. Add to sausage. Continue cooking until onions are translucent and your sausage is cooked. Add water, chicken broth, apple cider, tomatoes, tomato sauce, carrots, basil and oregano. Cover and simmer for 1/2 hour. Add parsley and zucchini and simmer for another 15 minutes. Add the tortellini and cook until tender. Servie with bread and freshly grated parmesan.

Lentil Soup

1 C dry lentils
5 C water
4 each beef and chicken bouillon
2 C grated carrots
1 chopped onion
1/2 C chopped celery
dash of garlic powder

Place in a crock pot and cook until tender approximately 3 hours on high.
Add diced cooked ham for the last 20 min. or add chopped, cooked bacon in at the end (both optional).
When ready to serve put 1/4 cube butter in soup.
This soup is good served with warm cornbread.