Baked potato soup

Oh, I do love the Fall! Changing leaves, cooler temps and pumpkin everything everywhere! This soup is an old classic that I am sure you and your loved ones will enjoy!

Baked Potato Soup

3-4 large baking potatoes
6 strips bacon
1/2 stick salted butter
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
1/3 cup chopped green onion or chives
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or smoked gouda
1/2 heavy cream
salt and black pepper

Directions:

1. Peel and finely dice two of the potatoes. In a large pot, melt the butter and add the diced potatoes. Sautee over medium heat, allowing the potatoes to sweat for 10 minutes.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Meanwhile, spread the bacon on a wire/cooling wrack and place on a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan (any thin, flat pan with sides). Bake the bacon until crisp and all fat has been rendered. Remove the wire/cooling wrack, leaving the grease filled pan. Chop the bacon.

3. Cut the remaining potatoes into 1 inch cubes (skin on). Add them to the cookie sheet with the bacon grease, coating them well with the grease. Turn the oven up to 400 degrees and roast the potatoes in the grease until crispy and brown.

4. Chop the onion or chives and add to the pot of potatoes and butter. Add a couple of pinches of salt and pepper at this point. Pour in the chicken broth and allow everything to come to a boil. Remove from heat.

**This is the part that can be messy.**

5. In small batches, blend the stock/potato combo until smooth. You can also do this with a hand held blender. When finished, return the puree to the pot and turn the heat on low.

6. Pour in the milk and stir. Next, add the cheese a little at a time until it has melted smoothly into the liquid. Turn off the heat and add the heavy cream. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste.

Just before serving, toss in the roasted potatoes and bacon chunks (you thought I forgot about them, didn't you?). They add tons of extra potato flavor and great texture! This should serve 4 hungry lumberjacks or 6 regular people. Some choose to add a little sour cream for garnish and flavor, but I find it a bit of a turn off.