So it's pretty important that you make this soup like, right now. You should've actually done it yesterday. What you doing with your life?!
I first had this soup when I was around 13, I believe. My Aunt made it for Christmas Eve dinner every year until just a few years ago. I became slightly enamored with this soup. It made me feel all warm & fuzzy inside. I started making it on my own about 6 years ago. I've never gotten it to taste the same as my Aunt's did- but this remains my absolutely favorite comfort food for a cold or rainy day.
Easy Potato Soup
& Made from scratch biscuits
What you need:
-3lb bag of baby red potatoes
-1/2 of a large, white onion, diced
-3 celery stalks, cut up (I actually only use 2)
-4 slices of bacon, cut up (again, I only use 2)
-1 cup of sliced baby carrots
-1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
-4 cups milk
-4 cups water
-1 cup half & half
-1/2 cup of margarine (1 stick) plus 3 tablespoons
-1/2 cup of flour
-Salt, to taste
-Shredded, cheddar cheese
What you do:
Wash potatoes- don't peel them- & then dice up into good bite-size chunks. Place in a large pot of water & boil until tender. Drain & put back into pot.In a large skillet, melt the 3 tablespoons of margarine & saute onion, celery, bacon & carrots until tender. Add to pot of potatoes.
Pour in milk, water, half & half & add chicken bouillon & about 2 teaspoons of salt. Stir.
Turn heat on medium.
While the soup heats up, you're going to make a roux.
In a small sauce pan, melt 1/2 cup of margarine. Add 1/2 cup of flour & stir continuously for about 30-45 seconds. Add to soup & mix with a wire whisk.
Continue to let soup heat up until it bubbles- but do not let boil!
Serve with crackers or biscuits (for which I shall provide a 'from scratch' recipe below). I tend to be a bit of a salt & cheese fiend.. I add a lot of them to my bowl of soup. This soup isn't incredibly thick- but it will thicken in the fridge if you have leftovers.
& Now onto the biscuits!
Made From Scratch Biscuits
What you need:
-2 cups of all purpose flour
-1 tablespoon baking powder
-1/2 teaspoon of salt
-2 tablespoons of sugar
-1/4 cup of butter or margarine
-3/4 cup of milk
What you do:
Mix together all dry ingredients & then "cut in" butter. Mix until the mixture looks like coarse bread crumbs. Stir in milk until it blends together to form a dough ball.
Place your dough ball on a heavily floured surface & let it set for about 5 minutes. Then knead the dough for 1-2 minutes. Re-flour your surface & roll dough out to about 1/2in thickness & cut with a biscuit cutter or a glass (honestly, I'm lazy & I just rip chunks of dough off the dough ball & flatten with my hands & then place into the bottom of greased muffin tins- so much easier & they turn out just fine).
Bake at 325 degrees F for about 12 minutes or until edges are slightly brown.
If you want to do a little extra, you can melt some margarine & add a little garlic powder & then brush that mixture onto the top of biscuits before you bake them.
You can also double this recipe- which makes a LOT of dough. But it freezes really well & doesn't actually take that long to thaw out.
Serve 'em hot, slathered in margarine. Nom nom, nomity nom.
