Cream Of Celery Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

5 Tbsp. unsalted butter
4 cups celery, chopped with leaves
1-1/2 cups onion, chopped
1 lg. garlic clove
1 bay leaf
3/4 cup dry white wine
4 cups chicken broth, degreased
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. white pepper
1/2 tsp. basil
1 cup half & half
2 Tbsp. flour
Celery leaves for garnish

Preparation

In a heavy saucepan, melt 3 Tbsp. of butter.
Add celery, onion and garlic.
Saute about 10 minutes.\tAdd bay leaf, 1/2 cup wine and chicken broth.
Simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaf.
Puree cooked mixture and stir in remaining white wine, salt, pepper, basil and half & half.
In a small skillet melt remaining butter and stir in flour.
Cook for 1 minute.
Blend in 1 cup of soup and whisk to smooth.
Add butter and flour mixture to soup in saucepan.
Cook until soup thickens slightly.
Serve using celery leaves for garnish.