Baked Potato Soup For A Crowd Food

FULLY LOADED BAKED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the potatoes on a roasting tray and bake for 45 minutes. When done, the tip of a paring knife should go through the potatoes easily.
• Slice the bacon into lardons (thin strips) and cook in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon from the pot with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pot.
• Add the flour to the drippings in the pot and stir to combine. Cook, without adding color, until the flour and fat has combined, about 1 minute. Pour in the milk while you whisk to incorporate. Cook over medium heat until bubbly and thickened, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes.
• Scoop out the potato pulp from the skins and add to the milk mixture. Mash with the back of a wooden spoon leaving it a little bit chunky.
• Add the cooked bacon (leaving a little out for garnishing the soup), 1 cup of the cheese, and season well with salt and pepper. Stir until the cheese has melted. Remove from the heat.
• Ladle the soup into bowls, drizzle with sour cream (from a squeeze bottle), sprinkle with remaining bacon bits, grated cheese and chives.

BAKED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Fry bacon in a large pot until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside leaving the drippings in the pot.
• Reduce heat to medium low and add diced onion to drippings. Cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
• Add garlic and flour, cook 1 minute while stirring. Whisk in chicken broth, bring to a boil over medium high heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Stir in mashed potatoes. Simmer an additional 5 minutes. Add the buttermilk and stir to combine allowing mixture to just come to a boil.
• Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup cheese, half of the bacon, and ⅓ cup sour cream.
• Garnish with a dollop of sour cream, reamining bacon, green onion and serve hot.

BAKED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-in. cubes; place half in a blender. Add broth; cover and process until smooth. Pour into a saucepan. Stir in sour cream, pepper and remaining potatoes. Cook over low heat until heated through (do not boil). Garnish with cheese, bacon and onion.

LOADED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• In 12-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium heat 6 to 7 minutes or until crisp; drain on paper towels. Crumble bacon; set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons drippings in skillet. Cook onion in bacon drippings over medium-high heat 6 minutes or until almost tender.
• In 6-quart Dutch oven, mix onion, broth and potatoes. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cook 10 minutes or until potatoes are very tender.
• Meanwhile, in same skillet, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour with whisk until smooth. Cook and stir 1 minute. Gradually stir in 2 cups of the milk. Pour milk mixture into potato mixture. Add remaining 2 cups milk, the salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with whisk, until mixture is thickened and bubbly.
• Stir in ham, half of the bacon, the sour cream, 2 cups of the cheese and 1/2 cup of the green onions. Cook until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted. Evenly top individual servings with remaining bacon, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/4 cup green onions.

LOADED BAKED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Wrap potatoes in aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Cool potatoes until easily handled and cut into cubes.
• Place the bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on paper towels and crumble.
• Combine milk, cream, sour cream, processed cheese, and Cheddar cheese in a large pot over medium heat; cook, stirring frequently, until cheeses are melted, about 10 minutes. Add potatoes and bacon to milk mixture and simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until potatoes begin to dissolve into soup, about 20 minutes; season with onion salt and black pepper.

POTATO SOUP FOR A CROWD OF 50

Steps:

• Peel 5 pounds potatoes and cut into small dice. Cover with 3 quarts water, add 2 Tablespoons salt and 1 Tablespoon monosodium glutamate, and cook, covered, until the potatoes are mushy. Whisk or beat until the mixture forms a puree.
• Meanwhile, chop 3 pounds onions. Melt 1/2 pound butter or margarine in a heavy pan, add the chopped onions, and cook, stirring often, until golden. (Do not allow the onions to brown.) Sprinkle with 1/2 cup flour and cook, stirring, for a few minutes.
• Heat 4 quarts milk and add gradually to the onion mixture, stirring. Cook, stirring, until the sauce is smooth and thickened. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring often. Combine the sauce with the potato puree. Heat well.
• Add 2 cups cream and heat gently (or use all milk or undiluted evaporated milk). Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and a little white pepper. Finely chop fresh chives or scallion greens to make about 1 cup. Serve the soup with a ladle, about 3/4 cup to a portion, and sprinkle each serving with about 1/2 teaspoon chopped chives. Serves 50 or more.
• The Complete Potato Cookbook.

BAKED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Wash the potatoes and prick them several times with a fork. Wrap them individually in foil and bake until they are soft when squeezed, about 1 hour (see Cook's Note). Let the potatoes cool slightly.
• While the potatoes bake, cook the bacon in a small skillet, in a microwave or on an indoor grill until crisp. Drain the bacon on paper towels and, when cool enough to handle, crumble into small pieces. Set aside.
• In a large heavy saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the flour, stirring constantly for 1 minute until smooth. Gradually whisk in the milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick and bubbling, 5 to 10 minutes. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh into the thickened milk mixture. Add the Cheddar, salt, pepper, green onions and reserved bacon. Cook over low heat just until heated through, then stir in the sour cream. Garnish with shredded Cheddar, crumbled bacon and chopped green onions and serve with more sour cream on the side.

TWICE BAKED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425. Prick potatoes wih a fork, and bale for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
• Remove the potatoes to a bowl and cover. Let potatoes stand for 10 minutes. Remove the skin and mash.
• Heat butter in a 3 quart saucepan. Add onion and cook until tender. Stir in broth and 5 cups mashed potatoes.
• Place 1/3 cup broth mixture in blender. Cover and blend ucntil smooth. Pour the mixture into bowl. Repeat the blending process with the remaining broth mixture.
• Return all pureed mixture to saucepan. Stir in the cream and chives and cook for 5 minutes, or until the mixture is hot/.
• Spoon 1/4 cup remaining potato into each bowl.
• Divide the broth mixture among the bowls.
• Top with bacon, cheese and sour cream.