Joy’s Delicious Broccoli Bacon Cheese Soup

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons corn starch (stirred into a small amount of cold water so that it doesn’t clump in the pot)                          
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) chicken broth or vegetable broth
• 4 cups fresh broccoli florets, finely chopped                       
• 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 1/2 cups milk (or organic half-and-half)                
• 1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese, divided
• 3-5 pieced cooked bacon, chopped (optional)            

Yield: 4 servings.