Favorite Blue Cheese Broccoli Bake

• 4 cups fresh small broccoli florets, chopped(I use 1 small head of broccoli chopped into florets)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 to 2 large garlic cloves, minced (optional, garlic lovers use 2 cloves)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbled (for a milder blue cheese flavor reduce to 1/3 cup)
• 1 cup milk or light cream
• fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 1/2 cups Ritz cracker crumbs,
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted

Instructions:——————————————–

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
   
2. Grease a medium casserole dish.
3. Steam broccoli florets until firm-tender (about 2-3 minutes) drain well then pat dry with paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible.
   
4. In a large saucepan melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat; add in the garlic and stir for 1 minute.
5. Add in the flour and stir for 1 minute.
6. Add cream cheese, blue cheese and milk or light cream; stir over low heat until melted and smooth then stir in the broccoli florets.
   
7. In a bowl combine the cracker crumbs with 6 tablespoons melted butter until well combined.
8. Remove 1 cup of the cracker mixture then stir into the broccoli mixture.
9. Season with black pepper.
   
10. Transfer mixture into a casserole dish.
11. Cover with foil or a lid and bake for 15 minutes.
12. Remove from oven then sprinkle the top with the remaining cracker crumbs.
13. Return to oven and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes.
14. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.