Gutter Runner's Potato soup
submitted by Gutter Runner
The first thing you want to do is fry up 1 pound of bacon. In my experience, any recipe that starts with frying a pound of bacon is going to be good. I like to cut the bacon into one inch strips before I fry it. If you want, you can fry it whole, then crumble it into the soup later. In the stock pot you will make your soup with, fry the bacon extra crispy, otherwise it will be like biting into a blob of fat in the soup.
Drain the grease and leave some bacony goodness in the pot. Put the bacon in the fridge for later.
Then you want to peel 5 lbs of potatoes, and cube them int 1 inch chunks or so. I like to boil my soup for 2-3 hrs to thicken it. If you want any chunks of potato left, cut them at least 1".
Then you want to cut up 2 large onions.
5 stalks of celery.
5 carrots. I like to slice them thin.
Put them all in the pot and cover with water. Turn on the stove and bring to a rolling boil. Next, we add our seasonings.
Then throw in 12 chicken boulion cubes.
3 1/2 tsp salt.
2 tsp fresh ground pepper.
A couple spoonfuls of minced garlic.
3 1/2 tsp basil leaves
Then add 1 tsp crushed red pepper.
5 tsp Franks Hot Sauce. (Trust me)
Stir all the ingredients in. I bring the soup to a rolling boil uncovered, then I turn it down a bit to just a steady low boil covered for 2-3 hrs or so. It does not have to be a heavy boil the whole time. Keep an eye on your soup and if it starts getting too thick, add some water right away and reduce it to a simmer. Clean up the kicthen and pour yourself a cold beer.
Go out to the garage and work on your rig for a while.
After boiling a few hrs it will thicken nicely. I like to thicken by boiling instead of adding flour. If you are short on time you could do that, but I dont think it tastes as good. Reduce the heat to a simmer.
Stir in the bacon that you fried earlier.
Add 3/4 stick of butter. Or, what the hell, throw it all in if you want.
Stir in some whipping cream. I use the whole pint.
Let it simmer for a half hour or so, then enjoy your soup!
You can top it with cheese, and chives. Eat it with crackers or french bread. Good stuff! The next day, its even better.