Cheeseburger Soup

Today I was the least contributing member of society possible. But, I did make dinner. Soup. Soup that has deemed Mariah's approval and is now her favorite over greens and beans, that's big.

This soup can be easily summed up in four words: Tastes like a cheeseburger.

Cheeseburger Soup

Ingredients:
1 lb ground sirloin
1 cup onion, diced
3/4 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup carrot, diced
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup russet potatoes, peeled and diced (or sweet potatoes, that's what we used!)
1 teaspoon dried basil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
Shoestring Fries
Chopped dill pickles

Directions:
1. Brown beef in 1 tablespoon butter in a large pot over medium heat. Cook until the meat begins to brown, then add the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic. Saute about 10 minutes.
2. Stir in the broth, potatoes, and basil; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 10-12 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked through.
3. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook 1-2 minutes, then add the milk, whisking until smooth, scraping the bottom of the pan. Add the milk mixture to the soup and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer.
Add cheese, ketchup, mustard, salt, and pepper, stirring until the cheese is melted. Serve with fries and chopped pickles.