Broccoli and Cheese Soup

This has to be one of my favorite soups to make.  It is so warm and creamy and CHEESY!  If you've ever had the Broccoli and Cheese Soup from Panera Bread, this is very close.  I discovered the recipe here, and modified it to use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock.  I didn't add in the carrots either, but I think it could be delicious either way. 

Here's what you need:

1 tbs melted butter
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half and half
2 cups vegetable broth
10 oz package frozen broccoli, thawed
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Here's what you do: 

Saute onion in 1 tbs melted butter until slightly browned.
Cook remaining butter and flour over medium heat for 3 minutes, whisking the entire time.
Stir butter/flour mixture slowly as you add the half and half.  Do the same as you add the vegetable broth, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Add onions and broccoli to mixture and simmer for another 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. 

(At this point, if you want it creamy, you can pour it all into a blender and puree...I like mine with the broccoli chunks!)
Add grated cheese and stir until melted. Follow it up with the nutmeg.

It is supposed to make 4 servings, BUT, if you like it as much as I do, you may end up eating half of it at once!