Saturday, March 17, 2007

Saturday Soups III


I was planning to respond to specific requests for soup recipes (which I offered last week), but since today is St. Patrick’s Day, I have to feature potato soup. What is more Irish than potatoes? And this particular recipe is a "smash hit of a potato soup."

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Melt-in-Your-Mouth Baked Potato Soup
Serves 12


5 pounds baking potatoes
48 oz. canned chicken stock
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground rosemary
3 cups half-and-half
12 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1) Peel and chop potatoes into 1/2" cubes. Pour the broth into a heavy stock pot. Add the potatoes, salt and rosemary and boil until potatoes are soft — about 30 minutes.

2) Remove approximately one-half the volume of the softened potatoes and broth and puree in a food processor or blender.

3) Return the pureed potatoes to the broth mixture and add half-and-half. Simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently until the soup thickens (about 45 minutes).

4) Garnish with cheese, sour cream and bacon.

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Since this is St. Patrick’s Day, here’s an Irish blessing.

May the blessing of light be on you—
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire.

I am sure many of us have a favorite Irish blessing.
Ruth offered one on her Friday Flowers. What’s yours?


Next week: by request, a chicken soup for Cathy.

9 comments:

Ruth said...

Potatoes are more Irish than cabbage and corned beef. I have made potato and leek soup, but this one with cheese looks yummy. I bought 20 lbs of potatoes last month because they were cheaper than a small bag. I have at least 15 pounds left...mmmm 3 batches of soup.
Ruth

dmmgmfm said...

That sounds absolutely wonderful. I am going to make that for my dad!

Mary said...

If we ever invite potatoes back into our diet, I'll definitely try it!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Donna!

Cathy said...

Ummmm. That sounds so good. Irish blessing? I'm so bad at this. I like the one about . . . may the road always rise to meet you. I'll have to google the rest:0)

LauraHinNJ said...

I love potatoes, but my husband shouldn't eat them. Think I'll make a small batch all for myself!

Cathy said...

I'm baaaack. A real honest-to-goodness genetically authentic Irish friend just emailed me several blessings. I really like this one: "May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain." Nice.

KGMom said...

Ruth--I agree about potatoes. After all, it was a POTATO famine that drove thousands of Irish to N. America.

Laurie--hope your dad likes it.

Mary and Laura--I know potatoes aren't for everyone. I limit my amounts because they are so HIGH in carbs.

Cathy--I like that blessings very much.

Anonymous said...

That looks really good! I'm going to have to try it. Love a good hearty soup on a winter day. Thanks for sharing it.

Pam said...

We absolutely have to make this soup! Boy oh boy, it sounds delicious!

Maiden name "McLaughlin," potatoes work!