Cheeseburger Soup.

It's been cold and snowy in Wisconsin since Mid-November.  Colder and snowier (ok, probably not snowier, but some days it feels like it) than normal.  It's getting old...

...but the eating soup and fresh bread part...that part is wonderful.

And so is this soup that I created after failed attempts of finding what I wanted in my cookbooks and Pinterest (shocker, I know). 

Cheeseburger Soup
(Recipe by Me)
1 lb ground beef
3 small onions (small like the size of a golf ball and sliced into rings)
1/2 cup carrots (sliced)
1/2 cup celery (sliced)
1 teaspoon garlic
4 tablespoons of butter (divided)
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups potatoes (peeled and sliced)
1/3 cup flour
16 ounces process cheese (cubed)
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Brown ground beef and set aside.  Saute onions, carrots, celery, and garlic in 1 tablespoon butter until vegetables are tender.  Place potatoes, beef, veggie mix, and broth in stock pot and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.  In a separate skillet, melt remaining butter.  Add flour and some of the broth to make a roux.  Add the roux to the soup.  Bring back to a boil then reduce heat to low.  Add cheese, milk, salt, pepper, and ketchup.  Stir until cheese melts.  Remove from heat and serve with a slice of fresh bread.

I'm certain this will quickly become a household favorite.  If serving for a gathering, I would recommend making a double batch.  My single batch was gone before we knew it...granted I do feed a dairy farmer and growing 1 year old :)