Jeans Baked Potato Soup Food

ALMOST-FAMOUS BAKED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion, scallion whites and a big pinch of salt to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft but not browned, about 8 minutes. Add the flour, celery seeds and white pepper; stir until combined.
• Add the potatoes, 3 1/2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the potatoes are tender but not falling apart, about 10 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the heat and transfer 1/2 cup of the potatoes to a blender. Add the half-and-half, cream cheese and parmesan and blend until very smooth. Gently stir the mixture into the pot along with the scallion greens, hot sauce and half of the bacon. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat; season with salt.
• Divide the soup among bowls. Top with cheddar cheese, the remaining bacon and chives.

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.

PERFECT POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Add the bacon pieces to a soup pot over medium heat and cook until crisp and the fat is rendered. Remove the bacon from the pot and set it aside. Pour off most of the grease, but do not clean the pot.
• Return the pot to medium-high heat and add the carrots, celery and onions. Stir and cook for 2 minutes or so, then add the diced potatoes. Cook for 5 minutes, seasoning with the Cajun spice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Pour in the broth and bring it to a gentle boil. Cook until the potatoes are starting to get tender, about 10 minutes. Whisk together the milk and flour, then pour the mixture into the soup and allow the soup to cook for another 5 minutes.
• Remove about half of the soup and blend in a blender or food processor until completely smooth. Pour it back into the soup pot and stir to combine. Let it heat back up as you taste for seasoning, adding more of what it needs. Stir in the cream, then the parsley,
• Serve in bowls garnished with the grated cheese and crisp bacon pieces. The soup can also be frozen.

JEAN'S BAKED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Bake Idaho Potatoes.
• Cool, peel and cut into large chunks.
• Bring chicken stock to a boil.
• Melt margarine in a non-reactive pot.
• Add onions and celery; sauté about 5 minutes. Add flour; cook 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Stir in chicken stock, blending well. Bring to a boil.
• Add Idaho Potatoes; reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes.
• Stir in cheddar cheese, cream and bacon; heat through.
• Remove soup from heat; stir in sour cream.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Garnish each serving with green onions, additional crumbled bacon and herbs, if desired.

JEN'S HEALTHY(ER) BAKED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Pre-bake your potatoes (I like to lightly spritz them with Pam and then sprinkle with salt and onion powder).
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
• Add onion and cook until tender (about 1 or 2 minutes depending on how fine the dice).
• Stir in flour and cook through.
• Gradually stir in broth and evaporated milk.
• Scoop potato pulp from 1.5 potatoes (reserve skin) and mash up. Add pulp to liquid mixture. Cook over medium heat (stir frequently or the bottom will burn!) until mixture just comes to boil.
• Dice up remaining potatoes and skin (not too small) and add to soup.
• Add Salt and Pepper to taste.
• Heat through and serve with optional toppings (but I love it as-is, really!).
• Serves 4 small servings, 2 big servings. Cook time includes time to bake potatoes.