This fun and rich Halloween Tradition is my family's favorite at the Chilcote's, which we haunt every Hallow's Eve. Sharla has made us dinner for at least the past 14 years (minus one when we decided to take Halloween out on our own with my father-in-law's train) My favorite is her Tortellini Soup but that's a whole other post. This year she entrusted me to make her specialty. I was very nervous but it passed!

Sharla's Vegetable Cheese Soup

Cook Veggies

1 chopped onion

1 small bag of baby carrots

3 celery sticks, chopped

4 lg potatoes, peeled & cubed

Put in stock pot and cover just barely with water. Bring to a boil and simmer until just cooked.

Cook a bag of Petite Peas separately. Cook a bag of frozen broccoli separately.

In another pan

3 cubes butter

1 c flour

Melt butter and slowly add flour to make a rue. Add chicken boullion or paste for flavor, blend thoroughly. While making rue, heat 1 1/2 quarts of half and half in microwave (about 4-5 minutes) Slowly mix warm half and half into rue. The ad 1 15oz jar of Cheese Whiz (found on aisle with dry parmesean) Slowly add juice from the main pot of veggies to right consistency.

Put drained veggies in crockpot - pour cheesy soup over top and mix. This makes 2 crockpots full.

Tortellini Soup

1 lb mild italian sausage, brown and drained
1 c chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 c water
5 c beef broth
1/2 c white grape juice
1 c sliced carrots
2 c crushed tomatoes
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp oregano
8 oz tomato sauce
2 cups tortellini noodles
3 Tbsp chopped parsley
fresh grated parmsean to sprinkle on top

In the same pan you cooked the sausage in, saute onion, garlic and green pepper. Add all but tortellini, parsley and cheese. Bring to boil, reduce heat to simmer 30 minutes. Stir in tortellini and simmer 30 more minutes. Serve with cheese and parmesean.