Food- Beer Cheese Soup!

   Many years ago I had a date and we went to the 101st Airborne restaurant in Nashville. It was a neat restaurant out by the Airport.  I was curious to know if it still existed and sadly, it does not.  According to what I read online, it closed in 2006.  Anyway,  I don't remember who the date was but I definitely remember the Beer Cheese Soup!!  Unlike my date, I have thought about that Soup for over 25 years.  I have searched for a recipe that would come close .  I think I have finally found it.  

    My "date" now is my husband, David (unforgettable. larger than life and a real Airborne Soldier).  He has been out of town since Sunday morning and came back today (Wednesday).  The first words out of his mouth were "What's for dinner?".  I should expect this, we've been married for 18 years.  Parker and I tease him that everything revolves around FOOD in David's world.  His Facebook posts are 90% about where he's eating :)  He likes his meals and appreciates the effort that goes into a good meal.     If I wanted to change to mood in my house I would say, "whatever you can find!". Talk about a game changer!  I also know that if I add Key Lime Pie, it makes everything better. Smoke & mirrors.

So back to dinner.....My brain says "Beer Cheese Soup" and my mouth repeats it.  I'm hoping my brain is also taking inventory of what's in the fridge and pantry.   I take a physical inventory and realize that I need more cheese and we'll have Beer Cheese Soup! I grab cheese @ the store when I pick Cooper up from school.   I stop and think about the fact that I have to get Cooper to church (Oliver is sick) @ 5:30, pick Parker up from Football practice @ 6;15 get him to Youth and pick them back up @ 7:00.  I  wonder if I'll have time to pull it all together.  I better start asap is my next thought.  That's one of the great things about this recipe is that it is quick!!

  Note: if you are worried about the word BEER, the alcohol evaporates out of the soup :)

    I found this recipe last year on www.allrecipes.com and it is delicious.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon margarine                                   
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1/2 cup chopped onion                                   
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic                            
2 cups half & half
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce                    
2 cups shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 (12 ounce) can or bottle light beer*

* www.backfortybeer.com  - as local as it gets!

Directions:
1. Melt the butter or margarine in a 4 1/2 quart soup pot over medium heat.  Add the onion, garlic 
    and Worcestershire sauce and stir well.  Add the beer and raise the heat to high and boil for 3
    minutes to evaporate the alcohol.  Add the chicken broth and bring the soup back to a boil.  Lower 
    the heat to medium-low and simmer.

2. Combine the cornstarch with 3 tablespoons water and stir until smooth. Set aside.

3. Add the half & half and shredded cheese to the soup.  Stir constantly until the cheese melts.  Then
    stir in the cornstarch mixture.  Stir constantly until the soup is thick, about 2 minutes.  Serve
    garnished w/ shredded cheese.  Optional: top w/ fresh bacon bits.

We made cornbread in our cast iron corn stick pan. The boys
eat the corn shaped cornbread better than pie shaped :)

My favorite beer. Honesty, the soup is better w/ a cheaper beer than it was with this one but it was what was in our fridge.