WENDELL'S POTATO SOUP

By carvalhohm

Ingredients

• TOPPINGS FOR SOUP :
• 2 Medium Baking Potatoes
• Water
• 5 Tablespoons Butter, divide into one 2 Tablespoons and one 3 Tablespoons pieces
• 3 Tablespoons Milk
• 3 Tablespoons Flour
• 2 Cups Milk
• 1 Cup Water, reserved from cooking the Potatoes
• 6-8 Tablespoons Grated Cheddar Cheese
• 2-3 Tablespoons Diced Ham (1/8 inch cubes)
• Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper to Taste
• Crumbled Bacon (1 to 2 Teaspoons for each serving-I use the Real Bacon Pieces from either Hormel or Oscar Mayer)
• Chopped Chives (About 1 Teaspoon per serving)
• Grated Cheddar Cheese (About 1 Tablespoon per serving)

Preparation

Step 1

Peel and dice Potatoes in to 1/2 inch cubes. Place Potatoes in medium to large sauce pan cover with Water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for about 12 to 15 minutes or until Potatoes are fork tender. Drain reserving the Water Potatoes were cooked in. Remove 1/4 of Potatoes to small bowl. Add 2 Tablespoons Butter to remaining Potatoes and mash with Potato masher much like making mashed Potatoes. Add three Tablespoons of Milk and finish mashing Potatoes.

In separate sauce pan make medium white sauce by melting the remaining 3 Tablespoons Butter over medium heat. Add lour and whisk until Butter and Flour are well blended. Cook over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, Add 2 cups of Milk and continue to stir until mixture starts to get thick. Add cup of Reserved Water and 3 Tablespoons Grated Cheese. Continue to stir until cheese has melted. Add diced Ham and stir to mix. Add cooked diced Potatoes that were reserved and stir until soup is nice and thick. Add Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper to taste. Ladle soup into either soup cups or small bowls. Add toppings to soup and serve with fresh Saltine crackers.

NOTE: Two medium leftover baked Potatoes can also be used in cooking this soup. Cut Potatoes in half and scoop out pulp. If they are still hot just add the 2 tablespoons of Butter and continue from there. If Potatoes are cold then Butter should be melted before adding to Potatoes.