This recipe is handed down from my Great-Grandma Bennett. I never had the pleasure of her making it for me. I was staying with my grandma after she had surgery and in passing the time, she was telling me of family history. The Potato Soup recipe came up. I wrote it out as she told me, went directly to the kitchen and made a pot. She is in assisted living now, an amazing 96 years old and still keeping house. I make this soup for her from time to time. As it satisfies her appetite, it always warms my heart twice. Once while making it and once while seeing her enjoy it so.
Great-Grandma’s Potato Soup
6-8 potatoes of choice, scrubbed, peeled and cubed. Clean and slice 3 stalks of celery and add to potatoes. Add 1 tsp salt & 1 tsp pepper and ½ tsp celery seed.
Cover with 5 cups of good chicken stock or water and 3 chicken bouillon cubes, simmer until potatoes are tender.
Meanwhile, fry 4-6 slices of bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towel, set aside. In the same pan, drain all but about 3 Tbsp. fat, slice a large sweet onion very thin and sauté in drippings until slightly browned. Remove the onions and set aside.
Melt 3 Tbsp. butter in a pan with same drippings, add 1/3 cup flour, stirring and scraping until the flour begins to brown. Remove from heat and stir into pot with potatoes and broth. Return to heat and bring to a low boil, adding onions. Reduce to simmer until mixture begins to thicken. Stir in about 1 cup half and half or cream, heat just through. (If desired, add a couple slices of American cheese and stir in when melted.
Crumble crisp bacon and stir into the soup. Serve with favorite bread or biscuits. **
**If you have the time, try making Butterhorns. One of Eliza’s favorite yeast rolls.
This is actually a favorite recipe of mine that I have made for years. The recipe makes 2 dozen rolls. That’s more than enough to add cinnamon to some of the circles before rolling into these wonderful crescent shape rolls, so you have your sweet stopper! Also a tradition of mine! A word to the wise, make a light meal with these because when they come out of the oven, they won’t last long!
