Cheeseburger Soup

Our Christmas consists of two days of celebration.  One day is spent at my parents' house with my parents, my kids, my siblings, my niece and nephew, and sometimes an aunt and uncle or two as well.  We eat yummy foods, open gifts, and celebrate together.  The other day is spent at my house where I prepare 3 different soups each year along with chips and nacho cheese, along with other assorted candies, cookies, and snacks.  I always, ALWAYS am required to make Chicken and Noodles, but the other two soups vary from year to year.  This year, along with Chicken and Noodles, I am making the Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Chili I posted recently and this Cheeseburger Soup I'm posting today as well.  I'm so excited for Christmas this year.  I'm ready to make some happy memories with family around a table of good food and lots of fun!

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. Lean Ground Beef

1 15 oz can Rico's Condensed Cheddar Cheese 

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

2 Tbsp. Butter

1 cup finely diced carrots

1 cup finely diced potatoes

1/2 cup finely diced celery

1/2 cup finely diced onion

3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed

3 Tbsp. flour

1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce

6 oz. can Tomato Paste

2 cups chicken broth

2 cups milk

1 Tbsp. Parsley Flakes

Salt and Pepper

Brown ground beef, seasoned with salt and pepper, in a small pot and set aside.

In a large pot, add butter and olive oil and heat.  Add carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, and garlic.  Saute until vegetables begin to get tender.  Add flour and stir together until flour is pasty and translucent.  Stir in tomato paste.  Add milk and broth, and whisk together until it becomes slightly thickened.

Simmer for 10 minutes, then add in cheese sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and parsley flakes.  Whisk together until soup is smooth and creamy.  Add ground beef into soup mixture, and combine well.  

Simmer together an additional 10 minutes, then serve.