ROASTED GARLIC AND LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cut off top 1/4 inch of each garlic head.
• Place garlic heads in small shallow baking dish.
• Drizzle oil over.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Bake until golden, about 1 hour.
• Cool slightly.
• Press individual garlic cloves between thumb and finger to release garlic, Should be like butter.
• Chop garlic.
• Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat.
• Add leeks and onion and saute until onion is translucent, about 8 minutes add garlic.
• Reduce heat to low.
• Add flour and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in hot stock and Sherry.
• Simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Cool slightly.
• Puree soup in batches in blender or processor.
• Return soup to saucepan.
• Add cream and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile.
• Heat olive oil then quickly saute garlic slices till crisp and tan.
• Add lemon juice to taste.
• Season with salt and white pepper.
• Ladle into bowls.
• Garnish with fried garlic slices and minced chives.