Broccoli and Stilton Soup

Time 40 minutes
Serves 4

Ingredients

For vegetable stock
2 leeks
2 carrots
2 celery sticks
1 medium sized onion
2 cloves of garlic
bay leaf
thyme
rosemary
olive oil
I litre of water
—-
For soup
2 heads of broccoli – chopped
100g mature stilton – crumbled
1 onion – diced
2 cloves of garlic – crushed
a good glug of olive oil

Method

1. Make stock
2. roughly chop all washed vegetables
3. put water in a pan large enough to accomodate water & vegatables
4. add herbs
5. Bring to boil and simmer for about 20-25 minutes
6. strain stock into a bowl or pan. really push all of the fluid out of the soft veg.
7. Part two – Make the soup
8. Fry onion in a large, heavy bottomed pan, over a medium heat  until soft
9. Add crushed garlic and cook for a further minute
10. Add broccoli, stir and cook for about 5 minutes
11. add veg stock and top up with water if required
12. Bring to a simmer
13. Cook broccoli to taste
14. add all to a blender and blend to taste
15. return to pan rinse out blender into pan with 1/2 cup of water or milk as desired
16. Heat soup until hot but not boiling
17. add stilton and stir well just before serving
18. Serve with crusty bread