Cauliflower Soup

When Che's aunt dropped off a head of cauliflower bigger than my 2-year-old's head, I knew that I was going to need to do more with it than steam it and serve it with dinner for the next week.  I made this for lunch yesterday and it was fantastic.  My adjustments are in parenthesis. Check out The Pioneer Woman Cooks! for a bunch of great recipes!

1 stick butter
½ onion, diced (I used a whole onion)
1 carrot, diced (I used 2)
1 rib of celery, diced (I used 2)
1 whole (to 2 whole) cauliflower heads (roughly chopped)
2 Tbl. fresh or dried parsley (chopped)
2 quarts low-sodium chicken broth or stock (I only used one quart)
6 Tbl. all-purpose flour
2 c. whole milk (used 1%)
1 c. half-and-half (didn't have it, so I didn't use it)
2-4 tsp.salt, to taste
1 c. (heaping) sour cream, room temperature (I just added a Tbl. to the individual bowls)

In a large soup pot or dutch oven, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes, or until it starts to turn brown. Add the carrots and celery and cook an additional couple of minutes. Add cauliflower and parsley and stir to combine. Cover and cook over very low heat for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, pour in chicken stock or broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer.
In a medium saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Mix the flour with the milk and whisk to combine. Add flour-milk mixture slowly to the butter, whisking constantly. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup half-and-half. Add mixture to the simmering soup. Allow to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Check seasoning and add more salt or pepper if necessary.
Just before serving, place the sour cream in a serving bowl or soup tureen. Add two to three ladles of hot soup into the tureen and stir to combine with the sour cream. Pour in remaining soup and stir.
Serve immediately.