Miss Lee's Cheddar Cheese Soup

Guest blogger Jan McKeel shares with us what may be the BEST Cheese Soup Recipe Ever!!

"I love pulling out favorite recipes from friends around the country...I think of happy times and great friends each time I make them. Today's warm thoughts are of Lee Groner and her delicious cheddar cheese soup! I've been making it now over 25 years - and my son Curry still calls it Miss Lee's soup!"

Miss Lee served it to the ten kids fortunate enough to stay at her day school. They all grew up loving Lee's cooking better than their own moms! Lee was so in the demand that she literally told many of us when would be best to have another baby based on her projecting day school openings 2-3 years in advance!

Lee was her own form of birth control in Southern Illinois for years!

Miss Lee's Cheddar Cheese Soup

1 large onion, thinly sliced or chopped fine

1 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon dry mustard

2  teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

2 cups chicken broth

2 or more medium carrots, sliced

2 or more large potatoes, pared and cubed

1/2 lb or more Kielbasa sausage, cut in 1/4 inch slices or smaller

3 cups milk 

3 cups (12 oz) or more Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

salt & pepper to taste

Cook, stirring until bubbly.

Stir in broth, carrots, potatoes, and Kielbasa sausage.

Simmer until tender.

Add milk.

Cook over medium heat until almost boiling; but do not boil.

Reduce heat to low, stir in cheese until melted.

Add salt & pepper.

Garnish with extra cheese if you wish.

You can use 2 cans of Cheddar Cheese soup in place of shredded cheese.

Serves 6.

Enjoy!

Lee Groner was my kiddos' nanny when we lived in Illinois. She is now retired and lives close to her daughter Cheryl (who was 16 when my kids were her mom's!) in Brookfield, CT. She grew up in Chicago and this is one of her old recipes from many years ago.