Hearty Cheeseburger Soup

Ingredients:

• 8 servings ~ 2 ¼ quarts
• 1/2 # ground beef
• 2/3 cup chopped onions
• 3/4 cup shredded carrots
• 3/4 cup diced celery
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• 1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 4 T butter, divided
• 1 T & 3 T
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups diced peeled potatoes (1 3/4 lbs.)
• 8 ounces American cheese cubed (2 cups)
• 1 1/2 cups of milk
• 1/4 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup sour cream

Directions:
In a 3 quart saucepan, brown beef. Drain and set aside. In the same saucepan sauté onions, carrots, celery, basil and parsley in 1 T spoon of butter until vegetables are tender about 10 minutes. Add broth potatoes and beef and bring to a boil reduce heat and cover and simmer for 10 - 12 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt remaining butter and add flour; cook and stir for 3 - 5 minutes or until bubbly. Add to soup. Bring to boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and Add cheese, milk salt and pepper; cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from heat and blend in sour cream. NOTE: Substitute other vegetables: Broccoli instead of potatoes for a nice Broccoli & Cheese Soup. Same goes for mushrooms. You may use ground turkey instead of hamburger or chicken or clams and make clam chowder! Versatile!