Easiest Broccoli Cheddar Soup

and Kamala...!

I have soup for you, but first….

The other evening I was winding down (a.k.a. catching up on Real Housewives while scrolling on my phone) when I saw this video of Vice President Kamala Harris at Bold Fork Books, one of my favorite bookstores ever (it’s all cookbooks and is in D.C. and is run by the nicest people — hi Clem, Sam + Brinda!). And lo and behold, I saw What Goes with What at the top of Kamala’s pile:

Longtime readers already know this, but this is not the first time Kamala has picked up one of my books at a great local bookstore (!!). Here she is in 2021 with Simply Julia, which she picked up at Providence’s Books on the Square:

While it’s so exciting to see her choose my books at these bookstores, it’s equally thrilling to see local, indie bookstores get the shine they so deserve. Bookstores bring community, safety, and wonder to every town and city they’re a part of. I am so grateful to all the bookstore owners and everyone who works at them. In my many years of publishing and book touring, meeting the folks at bookstores around the country has been such a highlight. Everyone who works in bookstores is so nice and supportive and interesting and smart. They’re just the best and I feel so lucky to be supported by so many of them. Book sellers: I love you! Kamala: I’ll cook for you anytime!

Want a signed copy of my latest book What Goes with What from my local, indie bookstore Oblong Books? Just head right here!! And if you want it in time for Christmas, get your order in by this Thursday (Dec. 5th). I’ll be headed there on Friday to sign/personalize all of the holiday orders so they can ship them out in time! Get yours now!!

For today’s installment of “I Love Lunch” I bring you the easiest ever Broccoli Cheddar Soup which I made on a whim today using leftover roasted broccoli I had from Full Fridge Club.

If you have leftover cooked broccoli (it doesn’t have to be roasted, but it definitely can be!), you can make the soup start-to-finish in about…a minute. You just blend it with boiling water, a little BTB, a splash of milk, and of course grated cheddar. Yep, it’s that easy. If your water is indeed boiling, it will warm up the other ingredients enough that you DON’T EVEN NEED A POT. Easy lunch includes easy cleanup my beloved friends!

Full recipe with measurements/directions below for paid subscribers plus:

• how to increase the amount

• how to make the soup richer

• how to make the soup thicker

• notes on making the soup vegan

• notes on making the soup more substantial

• ideas if you don’t like broccoli

• ideas if you don’t like cheddar

• what to do if you’re allergic to yeast (key ingredient in BTB)

• a list of ideas for toppings

• a list of ideas accompaniments

I just ate this for lunch alongside a little ham sandwich made with the last of our Thanksgiving ham. A perfect lunch!

Mug by Alexis Tellefsen, soup + photo by me!

Makes 1 serving, great for lunch with a sandwich or something else on the side!

• 1 1/2 packed cups roasted broccoli (or any type of cooked broccoli)