Potato Soup

I've had several varieties of potato soups, but this is my favorite recipe.  I made this recipe up after seeing a friend make some potato soup once and thinking how easy it looks.  We've been enjoying it a few times a year since then.

Potato Soup
You need: 1 large pot at least 8 quarts to make this recipe.

1/4 - 1/3 onoin, chopped (according to your family's tastes)
2 sticks butter
1-2 stalks celery, sliced
1-2 carrots, finely chopped
1/4 green pepper, chopped (optional)
5 # potatoes
~ 4 cups chicken broth
1 pint half and half or cream
sea salt and pepper to taste
1 pkg. bacon (optional)
brocolli pieces, steamed (optional)
cheddar cheese, shredded (optional)


1.  Wash potatoes, cut in half and cover with water in a large pot.  Cover and bring to a boil and boil for 20 min. or until tender.
2.  While the potatoes are cooking cook bacon and chop and slice onion, celery, carrots, and green pepper.
3.  When potatoes are done dump into a colander to drain.
4.  Put butter, onoin, celery, carrots, and green pepper in the pot and return to stove on medium-low heat.  Cook thouroughly.
5.  Add chicken broth and potatoes to pot.  Keeping on medium-low heat.  Smash potatoes.  We like ours a little chunky. 
6.  When potatoes are smashed to your desired consistency add about 1/2 pint of half and half.  Stir well.  If still pretty thick add the rest of the half and half.  Warm on stove.  Stir often to keep from sticking on bottom of pot.  Do not boil.
8.  Add sea salt and pepper to taste.
7.  Serve with steamed broccoli, bacon and cheese, as desired.

This makes a thick hearty soup.  If you want it thinner add more chicken broth, half and half or water until it is the consistency you want.  Sometimes on the second day I need to add a little more liquid as it seems to thicken up in the fridge.  After our first meal I add in all the extra bacon and brocolli before refrigerating.
Sometimes we add a salad or bread to round out this meal.
I like the color the carrots give to the soup, plus the few extra nutrients.
I use my homemade chicken broth.
I leave the skins on our potatoes, but you could peel them before cooking if you don't like the skins.

Our whole family likes this soup (except maybe Felicity).  The kids usually get excited when they find out we are having Potato Soup for dinner and they often ask for more.