Wednesday, March 2, 2011

♬ Rainy Day Cheese and Potato Soup ♬




Photo courtesy of Bryan Door


Don't Let the Rain Come Down

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...While it didn't snow today, we had lots of rain. It was the kind of day that begged the soothing comfort that comes with a steaming pot of soup and a loaf of slow rising, aromatic bread. I had no intention of stepping outside for a grocery run, so both had to crafted from pantry and refrigerator stores and that left me with few options. A basic bread was no problem, but I wanted the soup to show a little thought and care. While rifling through my files, I came on this one from our days in Chicago. The music was resurrected from that period as well. Back then, my young and earnest rhythm section kept the beat with wooden spoons and the sight of their dancing backfields would make even a curmudgeon smile. Their "Ah, ha!" was worthy of a Grammy. The simplicity of this soup and the ease with which it can made make it very appealing on a damp and chilly day. It's similar to a broccoli and cheese soup but much easier to make. You can have this one on the table in less than an hour. I have one caution to share with you. Make sure the soup doesn't boil after cheese has been added to the base. It will break and separate and you'll end up with a curdled mess. While that won't affect flavor, a once pretty soup will become downright unappealing. Whole milk can be used to replace light cream, but don't be tempted to use lower fat dairy products. They just won't work here. This is a thin soup that is lightly thickened by mashing some of the potatoes in the pot. If you prefer a thicker soup, instant mashed potatoes or a slurry can be used to fortify the base. Without further ado, here's the recipe for my rainy day cheese soup.

Cheese and Potato Soup...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
6 cups peeled and diced boiling potatoes
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
4 (10.5-oz.) cans condensed chicken broth, undiluted
8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese + additional cheese for garnish
2-1/4 cups light cream or half-and-half
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
Salt to taste
Optional garnish: chopped bacon, chives, cheese

Directions:
1) Saute celery and onions with butter in a 3-quart saucepan until onions are translucent. Do not let onions brown.
2) Add chicken broth and potatoes and cook over medium low heat until potatoes are tender. about 10 to 15 minutes.
3) Mash potatoes lightly, leaving most of them in chunks. Reduce heat and stir in half-and-half. Add cheese and stir until completely melted and dissolved into mixture. Sprinkle sugar, pepper, and salt to taste into soup, stir.
4) Simmer slowly for 20 – 30 minutes taking care not to let soup scorch. When ready to serve garnish as desired. Yield: 6 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Cheesy Potato Soup - The Royal Cook
Baked Potato Soup - Gina's Skinny Recipes
Scallion and Potato Soup - Living the Gourmet
Kale and Potato Soup - The Teacher Cooks
Sweet Potato Soup - Taste Tempters
Hearty Ham and Potato Soup - Let's Dish
Sausage and Sweet Potato Soup with Black Eyed Peas - Deep South Dish

46 comments :

pam said...

This is the perfect soup for a rainy day!

Tasha said...

This is a perfect example of what I would want to be eating on a rainy day. Warm, comforting soup and lots of cheese is just the fix for dreary weather.

lena said...

though i;ve not made any soup with cheese before, i'm this is tasty good!creamy and cheesy, good dip for breads too!

TINTIN said...

Oh dear, I love your recipes ... :)

Jennifer said...

YUM! Perfect soup for chasing the rainy blues away! Looks delicious!

That Girl said...

I love the comfort of potato soup. Even better with cheese.

Umm Mymoonah said...

Looks so lovely, perfect for a rainy day.

Christine (Cook the Story) said...

Nothing is quite as comforting as potato soup. Adding cheese adds the comfort-foodiness of a grilled cheese sandwich to the mix. Btw, I love the music clip on this post. So fun!

Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook said...

Sometimes I just love a rainy day, and a warm, delicious bowl of creamy, comforting soup is just so perfect! Yours looks fantastic, Mary!

Joanne said...

What a beautiful pantry meal for a rainy day or even just for a day when you feel like eating a good bowl of soup!

Cooking Gallery said...

Cheese and potato sound totally delicious...especially on a rainy day!

Southerncook said...

Mary,

To me nothing says "comfort food" like a good Potato and Cheese soup. I am immediately reminded of a recipe my mother made and I still make it today and it is very similar to yours. Not exactly figure friendly BUT oh so good. After reading your post I now feel the need to make it tonight and we are still having chilly nights here in N FL. Warming up during the day but still soup weather.

Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

ann said...

I love soup on a rainy day! Delicious!

teresa said...

i loved the music when i popped in on your blog. this looks like such a rich cheesy soup, love it!

Erin said...

Your soup sounds perfect. And that's some rain! It's like that here too. Not sure if I would rather have the snow or not =o)

Unknown said...

Looks delish and the toppings a re limitless.

Kelly said...

I'm a huge fan of creamy, cheesy soups. This looks excellent.

Carolyn™ said...

Looks great and I love the song :)

Pondside said...

This sounds like real comfort food!

Emma said...

Cheese and potato soup! Just perfect for a rainy day :)

Ana Rita Marreiros said...

I love a rainy day with good food on the table or in the sofa with a blanket over us...
This soup is a good example of conforting food..

Kisses
Rita

Chiara said...

a perfect dish for a windy day ,a strong wind blowing here, 150 km/h, is called Bora, it is impossible to walk ...have a lovely day Mary...a hug

Holly said...

Sounds creamy and delicious-perfect for a gray day:)

Clint said...

Ummmmm! This is really appealing. I would have to force myself to consume it slowly, pausing to converse and sip the wine, but ever anxious to get another perfect bite.

We are having something a little different tonight---loaded baked potatoes. Great post, Mary, as always.

claire said...

cheese and potatoes in one dish... whats not to love!? thanks for sharing!

What's next said...

I love soup! I'll have to try this one... I make my mom's potato soup often, it was her cure for what ever was wrong!

Soumya Vineeth said...

Perfect, Wish could have some now, so cold outside!

Kim said...

I would call it a Snowy day soup because it fits so well with the winter here... It's the best way to heat it up a bit!

The Words Crafter said...

I. Love. Potato. Soup. Cheese is just the cherry on top! Delicious!!!

JG said...

On a chilly rainy day this would taste wonderful. It looks so good!
~Judy

The Teacher Cooks said...

Perfect soup for the rainy day. Love the musical addition. Thanks for the link!!!

Cooking Creation said...

Ahhhh... the ultimate comfort in a bowl.

Lynne @ CookandBeMerry said...

I grew up in Minnesota and lived in Chicago for three years. I know about cold and how soothing and warming a wonderful bowl of soup can be. Your recipe looks delicious.

Angela said...

Looks amazing! I love a good potato soup. My mom always made potato soup and cheese toast when we were sick; I crave it whenever I need some comfort.

sophia said...

It is JUST starting to rain here....and I just baked bread! now I wish I had a bowl of this soup to dunk it into...

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

I, too, love soup on a rainy day and this one looks delicious. No more little drummer/dancers at my house either.

Fondly,
Glenda

Anonymous said...

This does look great for a rainy day in!

Monet said...

Perfect for a rainy or a snowy day. And I agree...you don't want to use low fat in recipes like this. Bring on the cream! I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow. Thank you for sharing another bowl of delicious goodness!

Unknown said...

Definitely the soup for a day like that!! Then again, cheesy soup is good for any day!!

Eliana said...

this has comfort and delicious written all over it and would actually make me yearn for rainy days.

Sue @ All About Food said...

Oh, this soup sounds delicious. I appreciate the fact that it doesn't have any canned soups in it, as so many cheese and potato soup recipes do. Thanks for sharing!

Elaine said...

What a warm and cozy post. We had a similar day here yesterday. I wish I could have come harm to your soup. It looks and sounds delicious.

scrambledhenfruit said...

Potato soup is the perfect comfort food- this looks delicious!

Sophie ala Mode said...

This looks so delicious and comforting..

flying eagle woman said...

OHHH What I love about your blog is that you make even the most amazing of amazingness seem DOABLE! I hope to try this soup soon!
SMILES
Shawna

Life's a shoe said...

thanks for sharing, this sounds really good and kind of easy to make..can't wait to try it

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