Apple-Cheese Soup

Ingredients

• 3 Sprigs fresh thyme
• 1/4 c Peanut oil
• 2 Onions; diced
• Tabasco; to taste
• (above all tied together in
• *bouquet garni:
• 3 oz Ham scraps; and/or 1 ham
• 1 Lemon; juiced
• 4 tb Unsalted butter; softened
• 2 Bay Leaves
• 8 Tart apples, peel, core and
• 1 c White port
• 1 tb White peppercorns
• 1 sm Red apple, for garnish (such
• 1 1/2 lb Sharp Cheddar cheese; grated
• 4 sl Bacon, for garnish (apple-
• 2 Garlic minced
• 1/4 c All-purpose flour
• 1 Stalk celery; diced
• Salt to taste
• 6 c Chicken broth
• 1 sm Tart green apple, for