Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup

This is a weight watcher's recipe that I made a few minor adjustments to. Several people commented that they liked the soup but that it was a little thin. I wondered if adding SOS mix to the canned milk and cooking it until it thickened would be able to make that correction. It did! The cornstarch helped to give the soup a smooth velvety consistency that cream would ordinarily accomplish. It also prevented the base from breaking once the cheese was added at the end, another common complaint.
This comforting soup is only 5+ points per serving.

Serves 8

2 lbs of 93% lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 large onion, diced
1 1/2 cups diced celery
2 cloves minced garlic
1 can 2% evaporated milk
3/4 cup SOS mix(listed below)
1 quart beef stock
1 tbsp smoked paprika
Tabasco to taste(optional)
salt and pepper
2 cups shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
2-4 tbsp cornstarch(optional)
1/2 cup cold water(optional)
low-fat cheddar or crushed tortilla chips for optional garnish

Heat the oil in a large skillet and brown the meat,season with salt and pepper. Half way through the browning process, add the onions, celery, garlic, and smoked paprika and continue to cook until the veggies have softened. Spoon the meat and veggies into the insert of your slow cooker. Pour the beef stock over all in the slow cooker. Place the canned milk in a small sauce pot. Whisk in the SOS mix, salt and pepper and place the pot on the heat. Whisk until the sauce thickens. The sauce will be very thick but it will thin out once you add it to the slow cooker. Add the sauce to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Adjust seasoning if necessary and add the Tabasco if desired. Turn the slow cooker on high for 2 hours to give the soup a chance to thicken. If it is not thick enough for you at this point. Add some more cornstarch mixed in water. If it is too thick for your taste, add some more beef stock to thin it out. Turn the heat down to low and let the soup continue for another 2 hours. Just before serving, add the cheese and stir until melted. Serve with more cheese on top or crushed tortilla chips if desired.

SOS(Soup or Sauce) Mix
Cook's Notes- I omit the bouillon and usually use beef, chicken or veggie stock along with salt,pepper and any herbs I desire. This allows me to make unlimited combinations. You can also add milk and then a small amount of low-fat cheese to make a lovely cheese sauce for soups or casseroles.

2 cups powdered milk
3/4 cup cornstarch
2 tbsp dried onion
2 chicken or beef bouillon cubes, crushed if desired
Mix all together in a large zip lock bag or jar
To make whisk 1 1/4 cup liquid(milk, water, stock, wine) with 1/3 cup SOS mix. Bring to a boil, whisking until thickened.