Cheeseburger Soup

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 3/4 cup shredded carrots
• 3/4 cup chopped celery
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 pound processed American cheese, cubed
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 8 hotdog buns
• 4 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
• hot sauce, to taste

Preparation

1. Cook ground beef in a large stock pot over medium-high heat about 3 minutes, stirring until meat crumbles. Add onions and next 4 ingredients and sauté 4 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Drain well.
2. Stir in chicken broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 to 12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
3. Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Stir in flour, and cook, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes or until flour is lightly browned. Whisk flour mixture into simmering beef mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 6 minutes or until thickened.
4. Whisk in cheese and next 3 ingredients, just until cheese melts.
5. Separate hotdog buns in half; brush each half with melted butter. Cut each piece in half lengthwise and widthwise. Bake at 400°, buttered side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet 5 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately with soup.
6. Tracey Maxwell
7. 4037 Lillie Liles Road
8. Wake Forest, NC 27587