Cheeseburger Soup Recipe

I am putting the recipe up here for the "Cheese Burger Soup" My sister in law requested that I make this for her so when her Baby arrives she has minimal cooking. This soup is hearty, very good, and fairly cheap to make. I double this recipe because when I make it, I tend to feed other people as well, everyone loves it!

• 1/2-1 pound of ground beef or turkey (depending on how filling you want it to be!)
• 1 onion, diced ( I used frozen already chopped)
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 ounces mushrooms, cleaned and sliced (optional)
• 3-4 cups chicken or beef broth (or half and half)
  
  
• 2-3 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• salt and pepper to taste
  
  
• 2 Tbs butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 8 ounces American cheese, cubed
  
  
• 1/4 cup sour cream (optional--It makes for a creamier broth which is what I prefer)

Brown the ground beef. Add the onion and cook until soft. Drain any fat off. Add the carrots, celery, mushrooms and garlic and cook about 5-10 minutes, then add the broth, potatoes, and seasonings. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook 20 minutes or so. Timing's not essential as long as the vegetables are cooked!
Make a white sauce. Melt the butter, slowly add the flour, stirring constantly and cook 2 minutes over medium low heat. Slowly whisk in the milk, stirring constantly. Turn the heat up and simmer a few minutes until thick. Stir into the soup. Add the cheese and stir until melted. Just before serving, stir in the sour cream if using.
Goes great with biscuits, cornbread or crackers!