Rainy Days call for Cauliflower Soup...

I woke early this morning to the sound of rain.  Yesterday I had driven hours through the pouring rain and wind. Tornadoes and storms all over the South. Finally when night came threw in the towel and got a hotel room.  Hoping today would be full of sunshine.  Not to be.
When there are days like this I want to make a big pot of soup, some bread and cuddle up with a good book or hang out with my art supplies for a few hours.  During my stay in Alabama I found this delicious recipe for Cauliflower soup.  I wish I was making it today.

Cauliflower Soup

1 large cauliflower

1 onion - chopped

1 or 2 stalks of celery - chopped into small pieces

1/4 cup [60g/20z.] of butter

1/4 cup of flour

2 cups [500 ml/16 fl oz.] of chicken or vegetable stock

2 cups milk

salt and pepper to taste

pinch of grated nutmeg

1/2 cup grated cheese - optional

Divide the cauliflower into florets.  Plunge the floret into boiling salted water for 3 minutes. Drain.

Melt butter in a large sauce pan. Add onion and celery cook till soft. 

Stir in flour, cook for 1 minute, then gradually stir in the stock.

Bring to a boil, cover, simmer for 20 minutes.

Strain into another pan, add milk, cauliflower, salt and pepper, and nutmeg.

Simmer for about 10 minutes.

With a slotted sppon remove and reserve avout 1/3 of the cauliflower florets.

Pour the ingredients into a food processor or blender. Pour in cheese. Puree.

Return to pan. Add reserved cauliflower, reheat gently.

Add a little grated cheese on top of soup for garnish.

Serve warm with buttered bread. Yum!