My Copy Cat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

I know for a fact that I can not be the only one obsessed with Panera's Broccoli Cheese Soup. I can not see a Panera with out craving it! Both of my older siblings worked at Panera when they were teens and I have asked if they could share the recipe but, I had no such luck. While living in Texas I always had a Panera close to me. Now in South Carolina it is kind of a drive to get my favorite soup. ): So I have tried and tried to find recipes that tasted the same and I think I finally found it! Its a cross of a few greats that I just love!

Ingredients: for serving 8
Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins

2 Tablespoons melted butter
1 Medium chopped yellow onion
1/2 Cup melted butter

1/2 Flour

4 Cups half-and-half cream

4 Cups chicken stock
3/4- 1 Lb fresh Broccoli
1 1/2 Cups  Carrots, Sliced thinly

1/2 Teaspoon nutmeg

16  Ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese

To taste salt and pepper

Directions!

1.) Saute onion in 2 Tbsp of butter. Set aside.

2.) Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over low-medium heat for 4 minutes. Stir CONSTANTLY and add the half & half.

3.) Add the chicken stock. Simmer for 20 minutes.

4.) Add the broccoli, carrots, and onions. Cook over low heat 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally

5.) Add salt and pepper. Return to heat and add cheese. Stir in nutmeg.

6.) I eat with a baguette just like at Panera! 

ENJOY! 

30 Random Thing About Me (You might not already know)

1.) My favorite book right now, and has been for sometime. I have shared it with so many people that is how strongly I feel about it. 

2.) Five pet peeves... ~people being routinely late~people judging a situation before they fully understand it~

when promise aren't kept~ guy incorrectly "correcting" my workouts~ people trying to have a conversation with me while I am working out (unless its cardio PLEASE talk to me)

3.) What I have eaten so far today.. (Its only 9am) 1/2 cinnamon swirl bagel with cream cheese, yoplay yogurt and some milk.

4.) My most used Pandora station.. Electronic Cardio Radio (great for working out)

5.) Now playing  

6. My {biggest} pet peeve is women who endorse or get excited talking about Magic Mike or 50 Shades of Gray but get upset when their guy says something themselves. It goes both ways. If you want to be respected you must respect him. Demand by action that the way you want to be treated by treating him that way. 

7. My opinion of my body.. What a loaded thought. I like most people acknowledge there is some room for "improvement", but I am proud to be a strong women with curves. I work for my curves and strength and I always have a desire to become stronger. I have no desire to be a size "0" even though I don't thing being a size "0" is a bad thing it is simply not what i want for myself. 

8.)What i wore today.. I am wearing black yoga pants and a grey work out tank... That sounds really boring an it is.

9.) Some where i would like to visit.. I would love to and see greece 

10. Something I always think "what if" about.. What if I wasn't lucky enough to have been born in this amazing country or be born into a christian family. How different would my life be? How long would it take me to find my faith? Would I be the same person with the same desires?

11.) Something I am proud of.. I am proud of my husband and his desire to follow his dreams no matter what. He will let not let anything get in his way. He is just turn 22 and has started one of his dreams of getting his PhD in economics

12.  5 Items I want. 1.) a stationary bike at home to watch tv and ride the bike {that way watching tv isn't so bad right} 2.) an ipad to watch netflix while doing cardio ( i hate cardio..) 3.) a new car that is more family friendly for when Chris and I start our family down the road 4.) all things kate spade and tory burch 5.) endless bank account to attach to the grocery store so I can buy whatever I want

13.) one biggest fear. is not being able to have a family of my own

14.) Something I miss. MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY BACK IN TEXAS! I miss them all so much!

15.) Something I am currently worrying about.. making a phone call i need to make to a client but I am procrastinating by writing this blog post

16.) Quote I try to live by..

preach jillian preach

17.) My zodiac. Taurus. I don't keep up with that stuff. I make my own destiny (:

18.) Something I am excited for right now.. All the boot-camps I have coming up! First of which is

19.) 5 weird things I like.. I like planners (i have more than I can use right now)~ I like reading cookbooks~ I like working upper body rather than legs and abs~ I like 6 am workouts~ I like Wednesday's crossword puzzle even if my husband won't share (but I can't do them by myself)

20.) When I was a kid I just wanted to be a Mom, and that is all I want to be now. 

21.) My favorite Disney movie is BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (because I thought I looked the most like her growing up) 

22.) My favorite food.. MEXICAN well at least right now since I can't get good Mexican food here in Clemson, SC. Regularly its American/Asain Food (:

23.)My favorite TV Show..

I watch it every night on nick starting at 11

24.) My favorite place in South Carolina so far..

Issaqueena Falls 

25.) I met my husband at the gym while working out in the dumbbell section. ( The gym is among the worst places to meet a guy) It worked out for me though :)

26.) I was studying Biology at The University of Texas at Dallas in efforts to become an Anatomy and Physiology Teacher and Coach. I stopped my schooling when I found out Chris and I would be moving. 

27.) I have no known allergies. 

28.) I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 

29.) I have been married for over a year and still haven't uploaded my wedding pictures... maybe I will do that after this post... maybe

30.) Why did I start blogging? When I moved from Dallas I had a bunch of ladies still asking me to send them work outs and recommendations, it allows my family another way to keep up with me, the thought that I help even only one women (or man) feel comfortable in their own skin  is amazing. 

 Hope you learned something you didn't already know about me. 

"Eating Clean"

Consult a doctor before drastically changing your diet at anytime!