Potato Soup

[CajunDixie]

1/2 pound bacon
1 medium onion, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
6 cups chicken stock
2 1/2 pounds Idaho potatoes, peeled and diced large
1 bouquet garni
Salt and white pepper
1/2 cup cream

In a stock pot, render the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon and reserve for garnish. In the bacon fat, saute the onions, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the garlic. Add the stock, potatoes, and garni. Bring the liquid up to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Discard the bouquet garni. Remove from the heat. Using a hand-held mixer puree the potatoes until smooth. Finish the soup with the cream. Season with salt and pepper. Return the soup to the stove and bring up to a simmer. Garnish with the bacon and parsley. If you like cheese sprinkle on some medium cheddar cheese too.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

This sounds like a good recipe. I love to make soup this time of year. It's so grey and cold out and a nice soup cooking at home just makes me feel better.

 

[Snow White]

YUMMM! Sounds great, I'll fix this Monday! Thanks for the recipe!

 

[disykat]

What's a bouquet garni? I don't mean to sound stupid, I really can't figure it out!

 

[linny172]

I was wondering the same thing this soup sounds so good I wanted to try to make it but don't know what to put in the bouquet

 

[piratesmate]

I'm not sure what was in the one CajunDixie used, but this is what FoodReference.com says:

Bouquet Garni
The classic bouquet garni consists of a few bay leaves, a parsley sprig and a thyme sprig tied in cheesecloth.
Other herbs are frequently added, such as rosemary, savory, sage, basil, celery leaves, chervil, and tarragon.

I've used whatever I "felt like" in a recipe - just tying fresh herbs in cheesecloth so that you canre move them.

Also, I've made potato soup w/o the garni - I just use dried, ground herbs/spices.

Deb

 

[lilboo]

This sounds so great. I'm no chef so forgive me if this sounds dumb but I'm assuming you can use leftover mashed potatoes too skipping the pureeing part?

I'l give it a whirl and will let ya know if there were any adverse effects.

(Posting on behalf of Meriweather !!!)

 

[piratesmate]

I've seen recipes using mashed potatoes before. In this one, the main difference would probably be in the amount of flavor from the stock & spices. When you use mashed, they cooked in plain water instead of the stock etc. I'd be tempted to let it simmer a bit longer if I was using mashed. Does that make sense?

Deb

 

[Lanshark]

I make mine in a very similar way using left over mashed potatoes, cheese instead of cream and ham or sausage when I don't have bacon. It is a family favorite in cold weather. I have even cheated and used instant potatoes and it's still good.

 

[lilboo]

Oh man, you guys are good...perfect for all the snow we're getting!

 

[Dodie]

Thanks to everyone who admitted that they had no idea what a bouquet garni was.

 

[Muffy]

Thanks perfect for this cold weather!

 

[CajunDixie]

Sorry ladies about the bouquet garni, I had to look that up too the first time I made the recipe. Now I just toss in a bit of thyme, salt, and pepper. Sometimes I add a little celery since DH loves cooked celery so much.

 

[hercamore]

Hey, great reicpe thanks.

And I had NO idea wht that bouquet thingi was either!



Herc.

 

[disykat]

glad I wasn't the only one!