Time needed:
20 minutes

Number of servings:
4

Description:
A milk-based soup that's good for an autumn or winter meal, with bread and perhaps a fruit platter.

Ingredients:
1 package frozen chopped broccoli (10 oz.)

1 Tbsp. finely chopped onion

1/4 c. flour

3 c. milk

1 Tbsp. butter or margarine

salt and pepper to taste

diced ham, if you like

Instructions:
Place the broccoli in a colander; run hot water over it to thaw, and drain.

Put flour in cookpot with part of the milk, and mix until smooth. Add remaining milk. Add broccoli, onion, (and ham) and heat over Medium heat, until soup is heated through, slightly thickened, and flavors have blended.

Other comments or suggestions:
If you want a richer soup, some Half and Half can be substituted for part of the milk, in which case you could surely leave out the butter!

Our local grocer carries pre-cut, shrink-wrapped ham cubes, which are a great convenience for making things like beans, soups, and salads.

I have a child who will eat broccoli, but not onion, so I tend to substitute Onion Salt for the onion and salt.

For variety, try bags of "veggie combos". With a one pound bag of veggies, plus ham, we generally double the milk and other items in the recipe. The veggies in the bag seem to be in nicer, larger pieces, vs. the 10 oz. box.