Please Avoid "Cream of Blah Blah Soup"

Cream of Chicken/Mushroom/Celery Soup is the curse of most holiday cooking where I'm from. It's very easy to make sauces for things without a can opener. And it tastes so much better. So feel free to make recipes including these "soups" but sub out each can for one of these easy sauces.

"Cream Of Chicken"

1 cup chicken stock (low or no sodium)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup very small cooked shredded chicken
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 cups milk

Bring chicken stock to a boil with salt and pepper, reduce until liquid equals about 1/4 cup. Add chicken. In a small bowl, whisk flour into cold milk, then whisk into chicken. Bring to a boil, boil for 1 minute.

"Cream Of Celery"

1 cup vegetable stock (low or no sodium)
1/2 cup celery, very small diced
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 cups milk

Bring vegetable stock, celery, pepper and salt to a boil. Reduce until liquid is about 1/4 cup. In a small bowl, whisk flour into cold milk, then whisk into celery. Bring to a boil, boil for 1 minute.

"Cream of Mushroom with Garlic"

1 cup vegetable stock (low or no sodium)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup finely chopped crimini mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 cups milk

Bring stock, garlic, mushrooms, salt and pepper to a boil. Reduce until liquid is about 1/4 cup. In a small bowl, whisk flour into cold milk, then whisk into mushrooms. Bring to a boil, boil for one minute.