Celery and Bleu Cheese Soup

Soup will define your meal and this one will let your guests know they are going to have a fantastic extravaganza.  If you have never tried celery soup this is a must.  The delicate celery flavor with a hint of garlic and the unforgettable taste of blue cheese will let you know that this meal is about to elevate your taste buds step by step.

 

Celery and Blue Cheese Soup

Ingredients

• 1 Large Bunch Celery
• 2 Garlic Cloves
• 1 Onion
• 2 T. Butter
• 2 T. All-Purpose Flour
• 5 C. Vegetable or Chicken Stock
• 1/2 C. Whipping Cream
• 3 oz. Irish Cashel Blue Cheese (or other good quality)
• 3 Scallions (chopped for garnish)

Preparation

1. Clean and finely chop the celery, garlic and onion
2. Melt butter in a large saucepan, add vegetables and cook, stirring until they begin to soften
3. Sift in the flour, stirring until it cooks
4. Heat stock separately and gradually add to the vegetables and cook approximately 10 minutes
5. Puree in a blender or use
6. Return the soup to the saucepan and season well
7. Stir in the cream and cook a few moments to thicken the cream (Recipe can be done ahead of time to this point)
8. Just before serving, bring soup to a boil, turn down heat and stir in the crumbled blue cheese (do not boil once the cheese has been added)
9. Ladle soup into warmed bowls and garnish with the scallions

(Recipe from  “Savoring Ireland, Cooking through the Seasons” by Nuala Cullen)