Melinda's Cheesy Chicken Chowder

For years, on cold winter evenings, my mother would make homemade chicken noodle soup--vegetable chunks, chicken, and even handmade noodles!
I would crave this soup for days, wishing it would get cold so my mother would decide to make it and I know I wasn't the only member of the family with these feelings.
However, our world changed one day when our very cute neighbor, Melinda, offered to bring our sick family dinner. What she introduced to my family changed us forever.

It was Cheesy Chicken Chowder and
it was BETTER than mom's chicken noodle!

Melinda's Cheesy Chicken Chowder

3 cups chicken broth (about 2 cans)
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups diced cooked chicken
2 cups diced peeled potatoes
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced onions
1 1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
garlic
-Put all of this in a big pot on the stove and begin boiling-
While that's cooking, in a separate smaller saucepan:
melt 1/4 cup butter
then mix in 1/3 cup flour
-stir together really well and then turn temperature to low-
slowly add: 2 cups milk mixing well after each addition.
When mixture is nice and thick slowly add 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
-stir until melted and smooth-
-stir cheese mixture into chicken/vegetable mixture and simmer until
the potatoes are cooked to your preference.-

Enjoy!