Blt & P (bacon, Leek, Tomato And Potato) Soup

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling (evoo)
• 6 slices bacon (good-quality,lean and smoky chopped into 1/2 inch pieces)
• 3 small celery ribs, finely chopped (from the heart of the stalk)
• 2 small carrots or 2 medium carrots
• 3 leeks, trimmed of rough tops and roots
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and pepper
• 3 medium potatoes, starchy such as idaho, peeled
• 2 quarts chicken stock
• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, petite preferred drained
• fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
• crusty bread, for dunking and mopping

Recipe

• 1 heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat.
• 2 add a small amount of evoo and the bacon.
• 3 cook the bacon until brown and crisp.
• 4 remove the bacon to drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• 5 drain all but 2 tablespoons of remaining fat from pot then add the chopped celery.
• 6 take peeled carrots and lay flat on cutting board.
• 7 holding each carrot at root end, use the vegetable peeler to make long, thin strips of carrot.
• 8 chop the thin slices into small carrot bits (or chips), approximately 1/2 inch wide.
• 9 add the chips to celery and continue to stir.
• 10 cut leeks lengthwise and then into 1/2 inch half moons.
• 11 place dirty slices into colander and run under rushing cold water, separating all the layers so you can wash away all the trapped dirt.
• 12 when the leeks are separated and clean, shake off water and add to celery and carrots.
• 13 stir these veggies together, adding a bay leaf and seasoning with salt and pepper.
• 14 while the leeks cook (until they wilt 3-4 minutes), slice the potatoes.
• 15 cut each potato into thirds across.
• 16 stand each potato third upright and slice it thinly(the pieces will look like raw potato chips).
• 17 now adding stock to vegetables, bring to a boil.
• 18 reduce heat then add potatoes and tomatoes.
• 19 cook 8-10 minutes until potatoes are tender and starting to break up a bit.
• 20 add bacon and parsley, stirring.
• 21 adjust seasonings to taste (don't forget to remove bay leaf).
• 22 serve immediately.
• 23 enjoy!;).