1 ½ lbs broccoli spears
1 ¾ qts chicken or veggie stock
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper

To Serve:
6 slices white bread
1 large garlic clove peeled and cut in half
grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

Using a small, sharp knife peel the broccoli stems, starting from the base and pulling gently toward the flowerets. The peel should come off easily. Chop the broccoli into small chunks.

In a large sauce pan bring the stock to a boil. Add the broccoli and simmer for about 10 minutes until tender.

Puree about half of the soup and stir into the rest of the soup. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Reheat the soup. Toast the bread, rub with garlic, and cut quarters. Place 3 or 4 pieces of toast in the bottom of each soup bowl. Ladle the soup over. Serve at once topped with cheese.

My version: Used 1 head of broccoli, all I had, didn’t peel stalk nor chop very small. Cooked in 1 quart water with 1 veggie boullion cube. Pureed about 1/3 or less of soup because I like texture. Used crusty Tuscan bread and Romano cheese. Very tasty and quick to fix.