Savory Cheese Soup

• 8 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 large sweet onion
• 3 large carrots (peeled and chopped)
• 3 large celery ribs (chopped)
• 1 red bell pepper (chopped)
• 2 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 12 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened and cubed
• 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese

1. Melt 4 tablespoons of Butter in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add Garlic power, onions, celery and carrots.
3. Cook over medium heat about 8 minutes, or until vegetables are semi-soft.
4. Add Red Pepper and cook another 2-3 minutes.
5. Add chicken broth, stir, place lid on pot and lower heat to low.
6. Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large pot over medium heat.
7. Add flour and stir constantly.
8. Once it is a pasty substance, add milk SLOWLY!
9. Once the milk is incorporated and it looks like a thick gravy, add cream cheese; remove from heat.
10. Remove the lid from the broth and veggie mixture and remove a ladle at a time of the soup and add to the cream cheese mixture, (totaling about 4 ladles).
11. Once the cream cheese mixture has been tempered, add it back into the soup and combine.
12. Add the cheddar and stir until all cheese is melted.

butter, garlic, sweet onion, carrots, celery, red bell pepper, chicken broth, flour, milk, cream cheese, cheddar cheese

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/savory-cheese-soup-203243 (may not work)