Celery Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium baking potato
1/2 cup shallot, chopped
6 -7 stalks celery
3/4 cup dry white wine
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup half-and-half
salt and pepper, to taste
crouton, garnish if desired (optional)

Preparation

In a dutch oven melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the onions and potatoes and cook over medium heat for about five minutes. To the potato and onion mixture add the celery and shallots and cook for an additional five minutes.
Slowly pour wine into the vegetables and bring to a boil. Boil for about three minutes than add chicken broth. Cover dutch oven and simmer for approximately one hour or until the vegetables are tender.
Remove from heat and let set for about 20 minutes or until mixture is cool. Pour soup in batches into a blender and blend until smooth. Return blended soup to the dutch oven and heat to a simmer. Add half and half, stirring until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve with a crouton garnish.