Baked Potato Soup

This may be the best potato soup I've ever tasted! Having the potatoes previously baked makes it taste so different in a good way. The recipe is from Our Best Bites.

3 Tblsp. butter

2-3 cloves garlic, minced (I think I used at least 4 garlic cloves)

1/2 Cup flour

4 1/2 Cups milk (low fat is fine)

1 (14 oz.) can chicken broth

4 medium baking potatoes (about 2 1/2 lbs.), baked

2 Cups grated cheddar (or sharp cheddar) cheese, divided

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1 1/2 Cups sour cream, divided

1/2 Cup chopped green onions, divided

8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided

DIRECTIONS:

Melt butter in a stock pot over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Add flour to pan. Slowly add milk a little at a time while whisking constantly to eliminate lumps. Whisk until smooth and then add chicken broth. (If you get to this point and don't have a smooth liquid, stop, and put the mixture in the blender, then continue.) Bring soup just to a simmer and heat until thickened, stirring often, about 5 minutes.

Once soup is thickened, turn heat down to medium-low. Cut potatoes in half length-wise and use a spoon to scoop out potato flesh into the pot. Use a wooden spoon to smash potatoes, breaking up large clumps. Add 1 1/2 cups grated cheese and salt and pepper and stir until cheese is melted. Remove pan from heat and stir in 3/4 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup green onions, and 4 strips of the crumbled bacon. Add additional salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and top each serving with the remaining sour cream, onions, cheese, and bacon.

Panera's Cream Cheese Potato Soup

This is supposed to be a copycat recipe...I've never had Panera's soup, so I have no idea if it tastes the same, but it is good.

4 cups chicken broth

4 cups peeled and cubed potatoes

1/4 cup minced onion

1/2 tsp. seasoning salt

1/8 tsp. white pepper (original recipe calls for 1/4 tsp.)

1/8 tsp. ground red pepper (original recipe calls for 1/4 tsp.)

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, cut into small chunks

Combine broth, potatoes, onions, and spices.

Boil on medium heat until potatoes are tender.

Smash a few of the potatoes to release their starch for thickening.

Reduce to low heat and add cream cheese.

Heat, stirring frequently, until cheese melts. Serve.

Potato Logs

3 large (or 5 small) russet potatoes

1 Tblsp. vegetable oil

1 tsp. seasoned salt

1 tsp. parsley flakes

1 tsp. garlic salt

1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scrub, but don't peel, potatoes. Cut into thin wedges. Pour vegetable oil in 1 Ziploc bag. In a second Ziploc bag, combine seasoned salt, parsley flakes, garlic salt, and Parmesan cheese. Put a handful of potatoes into the sack with oil and shake to coat lightly. Transfer potatoes to the spice mixture and shake well. Place on a cookie sheet that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake 45 minutes, until softened, browned, and crispy. Serve with sour cream or ketchup.

Perfect Baked Potato

1 Large Russett Potato

Oil (vegetable or canola)

Kosher salt (I use coarse sea salt)

Heat oven to 350 degrees and place racks in top and bottom thirds of the oven. Wash potato (or potatoes) thoroughly with cold water. Dry well, then poke 8 to 12 deep holes oll over it with a fork. Place in a bowl and coat lightly with oil. Sprinkle with salt and place potato directly on the rack in the middle of the oven. Place a cookie sheet on lower rack to catch any drippings.

Bake one hour or until skin feels crisp, but skin underneath feels soft.

If you are cooking more than four potatoes, you may need to extend the cooking time by up to 15 minutes.

Copycat Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana

I got this from Favorite Family Recipes, it is a GREAT winter soup!

3 (14 oz) cans chicken broth

2 cups whipping cream (last time I made it, I didn't have quite enough whipping cream, so I used a little French Vanilla Creamer and we liked it just as much, maybe better!)

red pepper flakes (to taste)

Salt and Pepper (to taste)

1 small onion, diced and sauteed

1/2 pkg. bacon, cooked and crumbled (I just use the real bacon bits from Costco)

4-5 cups chopped Kale

3-4 potatoes, cleaned and chopped (do NOT remove skins)

1 lb. pork sausage (or mild Italian sausage) shaped into small rounds, browned, and put on paper towels to de-grease

Put everything except potatoes in crock pot on high 3-4 hours. Add potatoes the last 40-60 minutes(so they don't get soggy). Serve with rolls or breadsticks.

Cheesy Potatoes

8-10 medium potatoes, boiled and grated or chopped
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cube margarine or butter
1 pint sour cream
1/2 onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups cheese, grated
salt and pepper to taste
corn flakes (if desired)

Combine all ingredients except corn flakes and place in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Spread corn flakes over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes.