Quick And Easy Artichoke Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/8 white onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 shallot, minced
2 cups marinated artichoke hearts, drained and finely chopped
1 1/4 cups chicken broth or 1 1/4 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup champagne or 1/4 cup white wine
1 tablespoon brandy
3 tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated (fresh) or 3 tablespoons asiago cheese
fresh ground pepper
sugar, if desired
fresh Italian parsley (to garnish) or dill (to garnish)
nonfat plain yogurt (optional) or nonfat sour cream (optional)

Preparation

Saute onions, garlic, and shallots in oil over medium heat until soft, about 2 minutes.
Add artichoke hearts, stock, wine, and brandy.
Bring to a boil, turn to the lowest setting, and simmer covered 10 minutes. If you want a smoother consistency, you can puree it at this time.
Pepper (and sugar, if desired) to taste, and serve topped with cheese, a dollop of yogurt or sour cream, and a sprinkling of fresh Italian parsley or dill.