Potato Cheddar Soup

Ryan and I love soup. Lauren enjoys it, Syd likes it and Cade swears we are trying to starve him with it. Here is one of my favorite potato soups.

1/4 lb. bacon cut into small pieces

1 onion (diced)

1 cube butter

7 to 8 c. diced potatoes (peeled or unpeeled)

1 tsp mustard (just the regular 'ole sandwich kind will work)

1 tsp sage

4 c. chicken broth (I use bullion cubes)

2 c grated Cheddar cheese

1 1/2 c. cream (I actually just use half and half or milk)

1 dash of hot sauce (like Tabasco sauce)

salt and pepper

In a large soup pot, cook bacon until crisp. Drain off all but 1 Tbsp of the fat. Add butter, onion and sage to the soup pot with the bacon and drippings. (Such a better word than "fat"). Simmer until onion is soft. Add mustard and cook for one more minute. Pour in the broth and add the potatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are soft (about 12-15 minutes). Take off the heat. Gradually stir in the cream and then the cheese, stirring constantly until the cheese melts. Add the hot sauce. Serve. It will need salt and pepper-but I let everyone season their own bowl.

Cheeseburger Soup

Ingredients:
4 Tbsp butter or margarine
1 lb ground beef
1 onion finely chopped
3/4 c shredded carrots
4 celery ribs finely chopped
1 Tsp basil
1 Tsp parsley
6 c. chicken broth
8 c cubed potatoes
3 c. milk
3-4 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:
In a large pot, combine butter, hamburger, onion, carrots and celery.

Cook and stir until beef is browned. Stir in basil and parsley. Add broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil and then simmer until potatoes are done (about 12-15 minutes).

Add milk and cheese. Stir until cheese melts, without bringing to a boil. Serve. It will need salt and pepper, but I'm never sure how much, so I give it a few shakes while I'm cooking the soup, and then let everyone season it as they please. Makes enough for my family to have 2 bowls and still have leftovers.