Lemon Artichoke Soup

Ingredients

• 2 cups artichoke hearts chopped
• 0.3 cup butter 
• 0.5 cup carrots minced
• 0.5 cup celery minced
• 3 cups chicken broth 
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper black
• 3 cups half and half 
• 1  optional: lemon halved
• 0.5 cup onion minced
• 1 teaspoon salt 

Equipment

• frying pan
• sauce pan
• blender

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic; cook until the onion and garlic are translucent. Stir in the chicken broth, artichoke hearts, salt, and pepper and simmer 10 minutes.
3. Transfer mixture to a blender and puree until smooth; return the mixture to the saucepan. Squeeze one lemon half into the pan.
4. Place the other lemon half into the saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer another 10 minutes.
5. Remove the lemon half from the pan and pour in the half and half; stir. Continue to simmer until thoroughly heated, about 10 minutes.