Cheddar Baked Potato Soup
Last week held a few bitter cold days for us here. Rainy, windy, icky. The kind of days you just want to crawl in under the covers and hide, only to emerge for hot bowls of soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Or at least that’s what we wanted to do, anyway. Jon works outdoors, all day, everyday, as a surveyor. When it pours rain though, it’s nearly impossible for his crew to work. So, I was stuck with him he was kind enough to make us a big pot of cheesy potato soup one day while the weather kept him home.
I stayed hunkered up under the covers but stepped in at the critical hour and made the grilled cheese. Always a team player, I guess you could say. Jon’s a big fan of soups and stews – anything that can be made in a pot for several hours. Me? I don’t have the patience for it really. And yet, I can tolerate making danish or cheesecake, which takes hours upon hours. Don’t go analyzing, more qualified folks have tried and failed. It’s okay. We had a nice selection of Kerrygold cheeses to use in his potato soup, but went fairly safe and used their aged cheddar and some Dubliner. Great choice! it added a nice punch but smoothness, and a lot of intense flavor. Paired with a couple of buttery grilled cheese sandwiches – heaven. For a few minutes I even forgot about the rain…and isn’t that the point? Let me know what you think!
Cheddar Baked Potato Soup
Rating: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Yield: 8-10 Servings
Ingredients
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 pound bacon, cut up
1 onion, finely chopped
3 carrot, finely chopped
3 ribs celery, finely chopped
2 tablespoons minced wet garlic
1/4 cup all purpose flour
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
12 ounces beer
4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 cup grated Kerrygold Aged Cheddar
1 cup grated Kerrygold Dubliner Cheddar
1 Tablespoon hot sauce
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire
Instructions
In a stockpot over medium heat, heat the butter, and add chopped bacon until cooked. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic for about 5 minutes. Add flour to the pan and continue to stir for a couple of minutes. Add salt and pepper.. Add the stock, then whisk in the milk, cream, and beer. Add in the potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 20 to 30 minutes.
Add the cheeses, 1/2 cup at a time, stir to melt after each addition. Add more salt and pepper, to taste. Add hot sauce and Worcestershire, if desired.
The Giveaway
I’ve given one of these fantastic mandoline slicers away before, but if I could, I’d give one to everyone. Edgeware has mastered the mandoline in its design – it’s meaty, it’s sharp, it actually WORKS. Several different cutting options, from thick to thin slicing, to even julienne. It was certainly a huge help in the creation of this soup! Onions, carrots, celery, and of course, potatoes, all had their turn, and all turned out great! I’d like for one of you to win an Edgeware mandoline of your own. So tell me, who wants it? You do, don’t you? Leave me a comment! That counts as one entry. For one additional chance (just choose one) – Share this post link on Twitter or on Facebook. return here to let me know you did, and now you’ve entered to win TWICE. For an additional chance, join Edgeware Fans on Facebook! They’d love to have you! Just be sure to return here and let me know you did. Three total entries per person, max. All extra comments will be deleted. Open to US Addresses Only (so very sorry Internationals, I do appreciate you, though), and is courtesy of and shipped by Edgeware Giveaway ends December 16, 11:59pm EST.
The BIG DEAL
See that 7 Quart KitchenAid? I know you want it. I certainly can’t blame you. So, to keep it fun and interesting, I’m giving you LOTS of extra opportunities to win it. For every giveaway you enter during my 25 Days of Doughmesstic Christmas, if you’ll go comment on THIS POST (Click thru!) saying “I entered to win the …” (you know, whatever you entered to win), you’ll get a BONUS entry to win the mixer. That’s 24 additional chances to win that bad boy. So scoot! Go enter to win today’s giveaway, and then visit THIS POST to comment for your bonus entries on the mixer. GOOD LUCK!
