CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP....TEA ROOM WORTHY....COME ON, INDULDGE!

Southern women love tea rooms! We plan our parties around them. We love to dress in fine fashion, drape those fabulous heirloom pearls around our necks and pin a fabulous big brooch to our beautifully shaped tweed jackets! The love of tea rooms begins when we are very young children.
By the time we reach adulthood, we have experienced many fine tea parties, from graduations, to wedding showers, baby showers, anniversaries and even gather here to celebrate our milestone birthdays.

If you have been a lover of tea rooms, you know you are going to experience some delicious food. Even men like to attend a tea room luncheon, although they probably won't admit it. We remember the finest of pimento cheese sandwiches, the most divine chicken salad on freshly baked croissants and to-die-for Cream of Mushroom soup, laced with white wine!

There is always the aroma of fresh roses, mixed with flavored teas and a lingering of Jungle Gardenia perfume.

Cheddar cheese bennies, laced with cayenne pepper are found on every table, along with hot pepper jelly!

I have never, ever had a mushroom soup to match what is served in our favorite southern tea room! Until now.......

ESTELLE'S CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP 1/4 cup butter 1/2 medium onion, chopped 1 clove of minced garlic 1/2 lb of fresh mushrooms 5 T. flour 1/2 t. salt 1/2 t. black pepper 1/2 t. garlic powder 1/4 t. nutmeg 1/4 t. dried thyme 4 cups chicken broth 1 cup half and half 1/4 cup white wine 2 T. freshly chopped parsley
In a large saucepan, melt the butter, Add the chopped onions and saute for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove the pan from the heat, add add the flour. Stir well to form a coating and a roux. Place back on medium heat, and add the chicken broth, stirring until well blended and smooth. Add all spices. Cover and simmer for 3 minutes. Stir in the half and half and white wine. Garnish with fresh parsley. Spoon into little individual soup bowls. Simply divine!