Creamy Potato & Bacon Soup

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 1/2 lbs bacon, chopped
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery ribs, sliced
• 6 cups of diced potatoes
• 32 ounces chicken broth
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2-2 cups fat-free half-and-half
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus some for garnish
• 4 green onions, sliced for garnish

Recipe

• 1 cook bacon until crisp in large pot. remove and drain well on paper towels. discard most of the bacon grease. leave about a tablespoon of grease in the pot.
• 2 meanwhile, prepare vegetables. add carrot and celery to the pot on medium heat. add a bit of salt and pepper. saute until soft but not brown, about 5 minutes, stirring often.
• 3 stir in chicken broth, potatoes, and cayenne pepper; add a bit of salt and pepper, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, about 10-15 minutes.
• 4 scoop out about 1/3 of the veggies and place in a mixing bowl. using a hand-held blender, blend the veggies until the consistency of creamed potatoes. add back to the soup and stir in half & half until the soup is the consistency you prefer. add about half of the bacon. stir in cheese, heating just until melted--do not boil. adjust seasoning to taste by adding salt, if desired. serve with bacon, cheese, and green onions as garnish.