REALLY GOOD POTATO SOUP

This soup is really good when the weather is cold, damp and dreary, or if you just need a quick weight gain. The smell of the soup simmering will brighten the cockles of your heart and put a spring in your step. 

As with most cooking, let common sense be your guide.  If you like garlic then add a dash or two of garlic power.  This recipe is great because you can change the garnishes and make a completely different batch of fit-to-eat potato soup.  It is possible to make Cheesy Potato soup, Bacon/Potato soup, or Ham/potato soup.  I guess you could add all to the ingredients and come up with the grand-daddy of all potato soups, although I’m not sure how it would taste.

Soup Ingredients:

 

1

Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1

Teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper

2

Cubes chicken bouillon or two teaspoons powdered chicken bouillon

4

Medium Russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1” squares

4

Sliced Green onions, or two teaspoons of onion flakes

3

Celery stalks, sliced into ¼” slices

2

Quarts water

2

Cups sweet milk (whole milk will make a heartier soup, just don’t use skim milk)

½

Cup of unsalted butter

1

Cup of potato flakes (Idahoan Premium brand is really good)

½

Cup bacon bits (optional)

½

Cup sharp rat cheese, grated (optional)

½

Cup cooked and diced baked ham (smoked ham just won’t do, this is also optional)

Cooking Instructions:

In a large pot over high heat combine the water, potatoes, celery, 2 of the sliced green onions and bring to a boil.  Add the Chicken bouillon and reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes or until the potato cubes are just slightly al dente.  It will be a huge mistake to overcook the potatoes, unless you would like to end up with mashed potato soup.

Drain the water, keeping 2 cups of liquid in the pot.  Keep the heat on low and add the milk, butter and potato flakes.  Stir well until the soup thickens, about 5 minutes.  Add salt and pepper.  Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, the remaining 2 sliced onions, and/or bacon bits.

You probably won’t need any type of bread, unless you want to commit high calorie suicide.  Also, cooking four slices of bacon cut into 1” strips, then sautéing the bacon pieces, onions and celery in the bacon drippings before adding the water and potatoes will give you an incredibly good potato soup, although the calories will be in the thousands for each spoonful.  What the hell, do it anyway.

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