Master Recipe Cream Of Whatever Soup Base

Steps:

• 1. PREP/PREPARE
• 2. Gather your ingredients.
• 3. Combine the milk & and chicken stock in a small bowl, and reserve.
• 4. Add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat.
• 5. When the foaming subsides, add the flour.
• 6. Whisk until the flour/butter mixture is smooth, and begins to turn a light brown, about 5 - 7 minutes.
• 7. Chef's Note: The process of mixing equal amounts of fat and flour is called making a roux.
• 8. Add the milk/chicken stock mixture, and whisk to combine with the roux.
• 9. Slowly bring to a simmer, and allow the mixture to thicken, about 5 - 7 minutes.
• 10. Add the spices, and season to taste.
• 11. Chef's Tip: If you are using broth, instead of stock, skip adding the salt.
• 12. Remove from heat, cover, and reserve.
• 13. Chef's Note: You can prepare the base several days ahead of time. Just cover and refrigerate until needed.
• 14. Where do I go from here... Add sautéed mushrooms for cream of mushroom soup... add sautéed celery for cream of celery soup... add some diced carrots, celery and chicken for cream of chicken soup... Add additional spices to fit the need. You get the idea.
• 15. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan. Add flour and make a paste. Add milk and bouillon cubes. Cook over low heat until thickened. Add pepper to taste. Add more milk when adding the other soup ingredients, depending on the thickness you desire.
• To this base you may add steamed broccoli and American cheese; or chunks of baked potato (peel and all) with American cheese, bacon pieces, and chives; or pureed, stewed tomatoes for a bisque; or leeks that have been cleaned well, steamed, and chopped; or cooked asparagus cut in pieces (if canned asparagus is used, add some of the liquid as well), topped with grated cheese and bacon pieces.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add minced garlic and saute 1 minute. Add flour and stir quickly, forming a paste and mixing well (making a roux). SLOWLY add milk a little at a time, while stirring constantly to avoid scalding.
• Once milk is added and mixed well, reduce heat to medium-low and add herbs. Add salt/pepper to your liking. Turn off the heat and let the soup simmer for a couple of minutes, stirring occasionally. Use as a soup base or pour into your casserole (soup will thicken a bit more as the casserole bakes).

Steps:

• 1. Combine all ingredients and store in an air tight container. About 6 months. *Note ~ Sometimes I just make a batch of the milk and cornstarch to keep in the cabinet and then add the flavors as needed. If you are adding the bullion as you use it, one bullion cube per 1 cup water/milk. I usually use 2 per use.
• 2. TO USE ~ To use as a can of condensed cream of whatever soup, combine 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 to 1 1/4 cups cold water (I use milk, makes it creamier I feel). Add the 1 cup and use the 1/4 cup as needed. Also adding the "flavor" of what cream of you need.
• 3. Heat and stir until it thickens. Use as you would the canned product.
• 4. To make specific flavors add the following when you are heating the mix and water. "FLAVOR" LIST (these amounts are per "can") Mushroom: add ½ cup finely chopped mushrooms. Celery: add ½ cup minced sauteed celery. Potato: add 1 cup cooked diced potatoes. Chicken: add ½ cup cooked chicken. Vegetable: add 3/4 cup cooked vegetables. Broccoli: add 1 cup cooked chopped broccoli *soup shown is Cream of Mushroom

Steps:

• Set a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat and add 4 tablespoons butter or oil. When the butter melts or the oil shimmers, add onions and garlic, and a generous pinch of salt.
• Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Place the meat, vegetables and other add-ins in the pot, along with the raw chicken (if using), and add enough liquid to cover. Season with salt. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
• Cook until the flavors have come together and the vegetables and greens are tender, about 20 minutes more. If you added raw chicken, remove it from the soup when cooked, allow to cool, shred and return to the soup. Taste and adjust for salt.
• Add more hot liquid if needed to thin the soup to desired consistency. Taste and adjust for salt.
• Serve hot, and garnish as desired.

Steps:

• Measure all dry ingredients and place in a Ziploc Bag.
• Combine and place in a storage container.
• To use combine 1/3 cup mix with 1 cup of water.
• Add in any of the above optional ingredients.
• Cook over low heat until thickened.