Cream of Potato Soup

This is the best Cream of Potato Soup I've ever had. I got the recipe from a co-worker many years ago when she brought it to work for a lunch. It was so delicious, I just had to have the recipe! If you're looking for a low-cal soup you had better stop right here because this soup is loaded with calories, and that's probably why it tastes so good. I consider it worth every calorie!

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds baby red potatoes (cut into bite sized pieces)
1/2 pound bacon, fried and crumbled (save the grease for cooking the onion and celery)
1 jumbo yellow onion, diced
1/4 bunch celery, diced (about 4 or 5 stalks)
1 quart milk
1 quart water
2 Tbs. chicken base (I use Better than Broth brand)
1 tsp. salt
1tsp. black pepper
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup flour
1/4 bunch parsley, chopped
1 cup whipping cream (for a less rich soup, substitute with half n half)
1 or 2 thick slices of ham, diced
toppings: grated colby or cheddar cheese, green onions

Directions

Boil cut up potatoes in salt water until tender and set aside. Fry up bacon in a large soup pot. Remove bacon and leave bacon fat. Put diced onion and celery in bacon fat and saute until tender (about 10 mins.). Add fried bacon to the onion and celery.
Add milk, water, chicken base, salt and pepper. Heat over medium-high heat until very hot, but not boiling. While soup is heating, melt butter in small sauce pan over low heat. Gradually stir in flour to make a roux. Mix well and let bubble, stirring constantly for about a minute.
Gradually add roux to soup, stirring constantly. Continue to cook at a low simmer until soup becomes thick and creamy.
Stir in cooked potatoes, parsley, ham and cream. Heat for about 5 mins. I like to make this soup the day ahead so the flavor has a chance to work its way through. If the soup gets thicker than I'd like, I add a little more milk and a little more chicken base. Top hot soup with cheese and onions and serve with a yummy bread.

Favorite Butternut Squash Soup Recipes

We had 26 butternut squash from our garden this year, so I was on a hunt for good recipes. I'm including my 3 favorite soups, at least for now...I'm sure I'll find more. All three of these soups taste yummy in a super easy bread bowl recipe I found that came along with one of the soup recipes. The first recipe was from a friend from church, and is fairly simple but good. I increase the amount of sherry, cream, and garlic from her original recipe.

Butternut Squash Soup (serves 4 to 6)

Ingredients

3 tbs. butter
2 tbs. olive oil
1cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, grated or minced
1 tsp. chopped fresh sage
2 to 2 1/2 lbs. butternut squash, peeled, seaded and cut into cubes
1/4 cup sherry
4 cups chicken broth
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
4 oz. pancetta chopped
1/2 cup cream
salt and pepper

Instructions

Melt the butter and olive oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and sage and saute one minute. Add squash cubes and saute 5 minutes. Add the sherry, broth, and cayenne pepper. Cover and simmer on low for about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, fry the pancetta in a little skillet until nicely crisped. Drain on a paper towel.

Puree soup, either with an immersion blender right in the pot, or transfer to a food processor or blender. Return to pot and stir in cream. season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve in bowls with pancetta on top. I have this soup pictured above in bread bowls. Yummy!!!


The next recipe is a wonderful curry recipe that included the super easy bread bowls. My guests loved this recipe!

Curried Butternut Squash Broccoli, Cheddar, Goat Cheese Soup

http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/curried-butternut-squash-broccoli-cheddar-goat-cheese-soup/


Here is the recipe for the bread bowls I've been raving about. I hate baking, but these are so ridiculously easy and good, I've made them a couple of times already.

Super Easy No Knead Bread Bowls

http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/super-easy-crusty-knead-pumpkin-bread-bowls

This is the final recipe that I've included by Emril Lagasse. It reminds me a bit of corn chowder in butternut squash form.

Smoked Sausage, Butternut Squash, and Wild Rice Soup 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/smoked-sausage-butternut-squash-and-wild-rice-soup-3645132