^[1]By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

With the weather cooling and the garden spent, it’s time to say goodbye to the gazapachos and cold soups of summer. We need something hearty. One of our household’s favorite winter soups is a Hearty Broccoli Chowder that I came across years ago while judging a newspaper recipe contest. A thick soup with chunks of turkey, this can make a meal with good crusty bread on the side.

I was a 20-something features writer at a newspaper in Connecticut and wrote the newspaper’s weekly food page on Wednesdays. (Newspaper food pages always appear Wednesdays, out of tradition, and so does ours.) The job gave me a chance to cook on company time. Occasionally, it meant public events, like the paper’s annual reader recipe contest. One year, my fellow judges and I were unanimous in declaring this soup the winner. I’ve been making it ever since.

This recipe has several things to recommend it: Besides turkey (or chicken), it includes other vegetables, adding to its nutritional value. And our recipe writer – her name was Sukie – suggests frozen broccoli – so it can be whipped up in a hurry. (I usually make it with fresh broccoli these days. Substitute two or three small to medium-sized heads.)

SUKIE’S HEARTY BROCCOLI CHOWDER

Ingredients:

2 cups raw carrot slices
2 cups water
2 cups chopped cook chicken or turkey
2 cups chicken broth
2 10-oz. pkgs. frozen chopped broccoli
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. salt
pepper to taste
1/2 cup flour (approximate)
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cup cubed Swiss cheese

Preparation:

Combine first seven ingredients in 4-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat, cover and simmer about 10 minutes.

Bring to a full rolling boil again, then gradually add flour, stirring constantly, to thicken. The entire 1/2 cup may not be needed. When it’s as thick as you’d like it, you’re done.

Stir in milk. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. Add pepper.

Remove from heat and stir in the cheese. Cover and let stand 3-5 minutes before serving.

Makes about six appetizer-sized servings.