Cream Soup Base

This recipe is an absolute staple in my life.  I use it for all of my creamy soups and the opportunities are endless.

Cream Soup Base
1 stick butter
1/2 cup flour
1 bag frozen seasoning blend, I know this is cheating, cut up onions, bell pepper, and celery if you want
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 half quart of half and half
1.5 cups broth (use chicken if making a non seafood dish, if seafood I like to use seafood base which can be found at oriental markets or you can boil shrimp heads and shells or fish bones and make your own)

Melt butter and saute the seasoning blend until all veggies are tender.  Add flour and cook for a minute or so.  Add soup, half and half, and broth.  You are now ready to get creative, here are some ideas.

Corn and Crab Soup
You will use the seafood base for this.  Add one can corn (cream or regular depending on consistency you like), 1/2-1 lb crab meat.  I confess on this...if I have to make large quantities of this soup I add a little fish, something white and flaky that I can fake people out that it is crab meat.  Broil it first and then flake it up.  I know that is terribly cheap of me but I promise no one will know.  Also add salt, pepper, red pepper, or just use Tony's seasoning.  If you like a relatively smooth soup you can use and immersion blender before adding your crab, then gently fold the crab meat in.  This soup is wonderful but if it's a special occasion and you want extra decadence add a little whipping cream at the end.

Shrimp and Corn Soup
Same as above just replace the crab w/ shrimp.  I do not precook my shrimp, just add them to the hot soup and simmer until they are done.

Southwest Chicken Corn Chowder 
Add 1 diced, cooked chicken breast, one can corn, one can green chilies, 1 large diced potato.  If you add the potato raw be sure it simmers long enough to get tender, you may want to boil it first.


Cream of Broccoli Soup
This one is ridiculously easy and may be my favorite....All you do is add one bag chopped broccoli and one bag florets.  You can add them frozen and just let it simmer until they are tender.  Serve topped with cheese, YUM!  Another amazing thing is to add crab meat to this one.

Cream of Spinach Soup
Just add a bag of frozen chopped spinach.

Cream of Asparagus
Chop fresh asparagus and add it.

Okay, I'm guessing you get the picture by now.  Do me a favor and if you come up with a great one let me know so I can add it to my meal idea list.



Comments

  1. Last night at a "high end" restaurant I had Oyster Rockefeller soup. Hubby and I both agreed my base would make it even better. You would simply add chopped spinach and oysters. It also had a touch of the liquor used in Rockefeller but I'm not crazy about that flavor so I would leave it out.

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