Ingredients:
2 ounces clarified butter
2 ounces bread flour
4 cups milk
1/2 small onions, peeled
1 whole cloves
1/2 small bay leaves
salt
nutmeg
white pepper
3 tablespoons margarine
3 tablespoons finely chopped onions
3 tablespoons finely chopped green peppers
1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 cup diced cooked ham
1 cup diced cooked turkey or 1 cup chicken
1 cup diced cooked potatoes
Directions:
Make a Bechamel sauce as follows: Heat clarified butter in medium size saucepan.
Whisk in bread flour and stir and cook over low heat until light cream color, but at least 1 minute.
Cool slightly.
In another saucepan, scald the milk.
Gradually add milk to the roux (flour and butter mixture) beating constantly with whisk.
Bring sauce to a boil, stirring constantly.
Reduce heat to a simmer.
Stick the bay leaf to the onion with the clove.
Place onion in sauce.
Simmer at least 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
Season very lightly with salt, nutmeg and white pepper.
Strain through a china cap.
Place plastic wrap on sauce to prevent formation of skin.
Cool in cold water bath and store in freezer in ziplock bags for later use, or keep warm over warm water bath for use in dishes being currently prepared.
To make soup using Bechamel base: Melt margarine in large saucepan.
Saute onion, pepper and celery seed until soft but not brown.
Meanwhile, heat half and half in a separate pan.
Add salt, ground peppers and thyme leaves to the sauteed vegetables.
Stir and cook over medium heat until well blended.
Whisking, gradually add warm half and half to 1 1/2 cups of warm Bechamel sauce.
Whisk until thoroughly blended.
Add this mixture to the sauteed vegetables and seasonings.
Stir and heat through over medium burner, but do not boil.
If necessary, use additional warm half and half to adjust consistency.
This is the base for a delicious creamy soup.
To finish your soup, add two cups of your choice from the following ingredients: diced, cooked ham (turkey ham or sliced lunch meat ham may be used) diced, cooked turkey or chicken diced, cooked potatoes.
Heat through taking care not to boil.
May be eaten over rice, or as a main course soup dish.
Servings: 4
Time preparation: 30 min.
Time total: 60 min.