White Cheddar and Ale Soup with Sausage Crostini – Three Meals A Day

Ingredients

• 5 Tbs butter Butter, without salt
• 3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp shallots, minced Shallots, raw
• 2 cloves garlic, minced Garlic, raw
• 5 Tbs flour Wheat flour, white, all-purpose, enriched, unbleached
• 2 cups chicken stock Soup, chicken broth, canned, prepared with equal volume water, commercial
• 1 cup pale ale Nopales, cooked, without salt
• 1 1/2 cups grated white cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup whipping cream Cream, fluid, heavy whipping
• 3 oz fully cooked smoked sausage like Kielbasa, cut into 1/4" dice
• 1 medium tomato, peeled, seeded & chopped Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average
• 2 Tbs olive oil Oil, olive, salad or cooking
• 1 Tbs balsamic vinegar Vinegar, balsamic
• 1 Tbs fresh basil, minced Spices, basil, ground
• 8 1/2" thick baguette bread slices, toasted