Potato Soup On A Whim Food

PERFECT POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Cook until fork-tender, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Place bacon in a large saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until crispy, about 8 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels. Pour out bacon grease.
• Melt butter in the saucepan over medium heat, scraping the bottom of the pan with a flat-edged wooden spoon. Add celery, onion, carrots, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; cook and stir until tender, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle in flour; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
• Pour half-and-half and chicken broth into the saucepan. Add potatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, thyme, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Stir in bacon pieces. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until flavors combine, about 10 minutes.
• Ladle into serving bowls. Garnish with 1/2 teaspoon pepper, green onions, and paprika.

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.

WHIM WHAM

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a heavy-based frying pan and fry the almonds until golden brown.
• Stir in the sugar and cook for 1 minute, stirring continuously, until the sugar dissolves and the almonds are well coated.
• Tip on to a greased baking sheet and leave to cool.
• About 30 minutes before ready to serve, cover the bottom of a serving bowl with broken sponge fingers or sponge cake.
• Pour the sherry, brandy and orange zest and juice over the sponge and leave to soak for 30 minutes.
• Whip the cream until it just holds its shape, and then gently fold in the yogurt.
• Spoon the mixture on top of the sponge.
• Roughly chop the almonds, sprinkle on top and serve immediately.