Cream of Mushroom Soup

To prepare your mise en place, finely dice the onions and emince the garlic.

Clean the mushrooms and slice into 1/4" -inch pieces. Set aside.

Measure out the butter, sherry, flour and milk. Set aside.

Note: Vegetable or a light chicken stock can be substituted for the milk, if desired.

To make the soup, melt the butter in a medium-sized pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions along with a pinch of salt. Saute until the onions are golden.

Turn up the heat and add the mushrooms along with another pinch of salt and some pepper. Saute the mushrooms until they release their moisture. Cook until they are browned. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds or so to release its aroma. Deglaze with the sherry.

Next, singer with the flour and stir to combine. Temper in the milk a bit at a time. Turn the heat up to medium and bring the soup to a simmer. Stir often to make sure the bottom does not scorch. Simmer the soup until the mushrooms are tender. Season to taste.

If serving the soup as is, you can finish it by tempering in the heavy cream (optional). Serve in warmed bowls.

Alternatively, if you choose to blend the soup, transfer it to a blender and blend until smooth. You may need to do this in batches. Return the soup to a clean pot and bring just to a simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper and temper in the cream, if using. Serve in warmed bowls.

Note: Items such as sauteed mushrooms, croutons or a drizzle of truffle oil would go well with this soup.