Not Your Typical Broccoli Cheese Soup

When most people think of broccoli cheese soup, they imagine a bowl of broccoli pieces swimming in a thin cheddar cheese sauce. I'm not knocking other recipes. I have tried many variations and they have ALL been mighty tasty in my opinion. However, THIS one will grab your taste buds, slap them around and say "Wake Up!" You are in for A treat! My husband HATES broccoli and....well just about ANY green vegetable there is. But I make THIS soup? He is more than happy to be the good example to his kids and eat ALL of his veggies!

Ingredients:

1 16 oz. bag of frozen broccoli
1 16 oz. bag of frozen cauliflower
1 heaping cup of long grain rice
6 cans of Swanson chicken broth
8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 pint of half and half
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder (or according to taste)
1 1/2 tsp salt (or according to taste)

Directions:

In a large pot, put in broccoli, cauliflower, rice and chicken broth. Heat over medium high heat until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently until the mixture has absorbed most of the broth. Remove from heat and using a potato masher, mash the mixture until mushy! Place back on heat reducing the temp to simmer and add in the remaining ingredients, stirring to mix well and making sure that the cream cheese has completely melted into the soup. If the soup is too thick just thin it down with some milk. This soup is especially good with Chicken in a Biscuit Crackers!