I think we may have lift-off! The kinks and quirks with my blog may finally be fixed. YAY! You can click on the links/tabs above, and they actually take you somewhere! Woo hoo!!! So, now I can finally start blogging away and keeping you in the loop with all things HOUSEPITALITIES. So, lets get rolling......
During the winter months I'm going to feature soup recipes on Sundays....ala "Souper Sundays".... Cute, right? My hubby and I LOVE soups and stews and chili. So comforting and warming and usually pretty filling. For me, they're the best thing to make on a Sunday. At about 10am I cook a little breakfast and start the soup while I'm in the kitchen. Once it's going, I leave it be for half the day, then later, when our breakfast wears off, we're ready to graze on soup for the rest of the day. Which makes for a very happy House-house! This type of Sunday cooking philosophy allows me to accomplish a lot around the house or do absolutely nothing.....whichever I prefer! Which is exactly how I like my Sundays. Don't forget, I'm a wedding planner, so Sundays are virtually my only day off. I like to keep it simple on my day off if you know what I mean.
So many people are intimidated by soups or stews because they are afraid that the version of a favorite soup or chili or stew won't develop the depth of flavor that they're used to finding in their favorite restaurant's version, or even their dear old Grandmothers version. Be not afraid! Soup recipe's may seem intimidating because they usually have a long list of ingredients, but they couldn't be easier. I have to say, making a good soup or stew makes me really feel accomplished and to be truthful, they are about as simple as it gets! Any beginner cook can score major points with just about any soup recipe out there and look like a chef extraordinaire while doing it!
I created this next recipe last Sunday and it was INCREDIBLE! I wanted to christen "Souper Sundays" with a big winner and if I do say so myself, it's major. Wish this blogger template would allow me to make smiley faces! INSERT SMILEY FACE HERE. Haha!
Anyway, run to the kitchen and make this Potato Soup ASAP and then come back to see what Souper Soup I'm whipping up next Sunday!
Housepitalities Potato Soup with Sausage
-2 large Leeks
-1 Large White Onion
-1 Shallot
-3 Cloves Garlic
-1.5 lbs Yukon Gold Potatoes
-1 Pint Half & Half
-1 Box Chicken or Vegetable Stock
-1 Large Link of Smoked Sausage (cut in half length wise and diced into bite size pieces)
-4 Slices thick cut bacon
-2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
-1 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (can eliminate if you don't like a little hint of spice)
-Salt and Pepper
-2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- Slice Leeks down to the green and place in bowl of cold water so that they shed the dirt/grit.
- Slice Potatoes into bite size chunks, about the size of a quarter.
- Slice bacon into bite size pieces and sautee' in large soup pot, drain and set aside.
- Roughly dice the shallot and onion and sautee' in 2 tablespoons of olive oil in large soup pot.
- Add bacon back in along with the leeks and smoked sausage, sautee' until leeks are opaque.
- Add box of stock and potatoes along with 1.5 cups of water.
- Add 2 tablespoons garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste.
- Grate or press 3 cloves of garlic into the soup pot.
- Boil for about 15-20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
- Turn stove to medium-low, ladle half of the mixture into blender or food processor, let sit for 5 minutes to allow it to cool so it doesn't expand when you blend it and destroy your kitchen!
- Blend or puree' and add back into the pot with the other, non-blended soup mixture. This will give your soup a great texture, but if you prefer a thinner soup you can skip this step.
- Add in pint of half and half and leave on low. Stir occasionally for the next half hour and VOILA!
Serve with crusty bread, a glass of good wine and a simple green salad and you've got a meal that will make your Sunday extra special! The picture does not do this soup justice...I promise you will love it.
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