Hearty Mushroom Soup

They call it falling for a reason...and I've fallen for the fungi (get it? fun guy...)  C'mon, you know that was hilarious!

But really.  Mel told me she was making mushroom soup tonight and if it turned out well she would bring some for me.  It sounded so yummy, I decided to make some too and we are going to exchange a bowl of our own version for the other!  I don't have hers yet, but will post it as soon as I do.

This soup turned out better than I could have ever expected and it's sooooo easy.  Hope you enjoy!

Hearty Mushroom Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
1 lb mushrooms, coarsely diced
1 medium onion, sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 slices thick cut bacon
3 cups beef broth
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

-if you don't mind dairy...these are completely optional but highly recommended-

1/4 cup grass fed butter, unsalted
2 TBSP arrowroot powder
1 cup heavy cream

Method:

Heat skillet over medium and cook ground beef until brown. Set aside.

In large stock pan, heat olive oil over medium high and add onions and bacon.  Cook through, stirring frequently, until onions are slightly browned and carmelized.  Add mushrooms and saute until soft.  Add broth, thyme, salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil, then let simmer over medium low for about 15 minutes.

Use immersion blender to blend mushroom soup until thick and mostly smooth.  Leave some chunks of mushroom to get excited over.  If you don't have an immersion blender, put 2/3 of the soup into a traditional blender or food processor and pulse a few times.  Add back to the pot and throw the beef in with it.  Continue to simmer.

If you are on a whole 30 program or don't eat any dairy, stop here and eat what you have.  It's delicious.  If you don't mind a little dairy, continue on for magicalness (I know that's not a real word, but you get my point).

In small sauce pan, melt butter over low heat.  Mix in arrowroot powder until smooth.  Add in heavy cream and stir constantly until warm, but not boiling.  Then stop! ...collaborate and listen.  Add this dairy goodness to your mushroom soup.  Mix it all together, remove from heat and watch it turn into thick, creamy, fabulosity.

Eat it.