Kids love cheese, and unless they have a lactose problem – here’s a great way of getting some vegetables into them.  The first thing to do is cook the vegetables that you want to put in this cheesy soup so that they are soft – cook it any way you want – boil, saute… whatever.  Now that the vegetables are cooked and set aside and semi-mash them (I don’t like everything mashed to a puree – it’s nice to have the texture of the vegetable in there – and it also allows you to still distinctly taste the vegetable in the soup.  If you mash it to a puree then all the flavors mix together and it could still be good, but it’s not what I personally like – or my daughter), start a roux (melt 3 tbs. butter and stir in 3 tbs. flour – stir until smooth) – once you have you’re roux, add 2 1/2 cups milk (I actually use 1 1/4 cup homemade chicken broth and 1 1/4  cup milk) – and bring it to a boil.  Cook and stir for 2 minutes until thickened and bubbly.  Add salt and pepper (and minced parsley if you want that in you’re soup).  Remove from heat and add your semi-mashed vegetables, and a cup of shredded cheese (I like cheddar – but do what you like).  Stir until the cheese is melted and enjoy.  You can crumble bacon over the top, add chopped chives, maybe sour cream.  You can also add cayenne, or some other spicy pepper if you’re into the spicy.

Potato cheese soup

I love this because no matter what vegetable I put into this soup (but let’s be reasonable – if you add beets to this – then you get what you deserve – having beets thrown at you), my little daughter will eat it up with a smile on her face.  Notes on nutrition, the longer you boil a vegetable, the less nutrients that vegetable has.  If you overboil, then both the flavor and the nutrients leech into the water – and you’ve lost the healthy part of the soup.  So par-boiling is good for softer vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower…  Sauteeing is better for summer squash, bell pepper…  But the soup is delicious regardless of the nutrition in the vegetables – and that’s thanks to the cheese. ::).

If you have any other nice soup ideas, or other meals that the kiddies enjoy – please share.