Sunday, December 23, 2012

Guest Heather Blake's Potato Soup


Today I'm delighted to host Heather Blake in the Kitchen.  Not only is she an amazing writer (with two phenomenal witchy mystery series under her belt), but she also happens to be one of the sweetest, most wonderful people you could ever hope to meet.  And today she's bringing us a winter warmer: Potato Soup.

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We had our first snowfall the other day, which unfortunately for me didn’t amount to much (I love snow), but it was the perfect excuse to stay inside, light the fire, and make a nice big pot of soup. One of my favorites is this recipe for hearty potato soup. It’s thick, rich, creamy and perfect to chase away the chill on a cold winter’s night.  My family loves it, too, especially the kids, mostly because they love piling on the (optional) cheese and bacon, making theirs “loaded” potato soup.  It’s all kinds of deliciousness, and I hope you’ll give it a try.


Potato Soup

1/4 c. butter + 1 tbsp.
1/4 c. flour (I substitute gluten-free flour)    
8 peeled and cubed potatoes, boiled separately until soft (usually 15 min.)
1/4 c. onion, chopped
2-3 medium carrots, sliced
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 1/2 – 2 qt. of milk (more milk = thinner soup)
2 chicken (or vegetable) bouillon cube
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. parsley
1/4 tsp. pepper

Start with peeling, cubing, and boiling potatoes. While potatoes cook, in separate soup pot, over med. heat, melt 1 tbsp.  butter and sauté onion, celery, carrot together until tender. Remove from pot; set aside.  Melt 1/4 c. butter. Slowly whisk in flour until thick (about five minutes). Slowly add in quart(s) of milk. Add bouillon cube(s). Stir frequently until cube(s) is dissolved, (a few minutes). Divide potatoes in half. Mash half and add to pot, stir. Add remaining cubed potatoes and onion/celery/carrots. Add seasonings.  Simmer on low heat, stirring frequently, for 1/2 hour.
(Optional) Top with bacon, cheddar cheese, green onion. Serve with loaf of bread for dunking.
Serves four.

Enjoy!



You can find Heather on the web at www.heatherblakebooks.com and as a regular contributor to the Cozy Chicks Blog at www.cozychicksblog.com/. Her third Wishcraft Mystery, "The Good, the Bad, and the Witchy" is available now, and the first of her Magic Potion Mysteries ("A Potion to Die For") will be available November of 2013.

Editor's note ... I got the date wrong!  "The Good, the Bad, and the Witchy" will be available in April 2013. 

12 comments:

  1. Hi Heather, so glad to see you here! the soup sounds divine. Why is it in this season that I want to devour everything I see?? xo

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  2. We had our first accumulating snowfall yesterday as well-not much-but I think it'll stick around so that we have a white Christmas. The potato soup looks devine-I'll be piling on the bacon and cheese too, though!

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  3. Thanks, Lucy! I think the cold just calls for nourishment. Lots of it. :) At least that's what I keep telling myself.

    And wanted to say thanks to Wendy and everyone at MLK for having me here today. One wee correction--The Good, the Bad, and the Witchy comes out in April (aka the month we all realize how much we "nourished" ourselves over the winter!).

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  4. Oops! I guess that was just wishful thinking on my part. :) This soup does sound incredible, simple hearty food. I think this is on the menu for Christmas Day (when we MIGHT be getting a little snow here!

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  5. Katreader, honestly, the bacon and cheese make the soup extra delicious! I hope you get that white Christmas.

    Wendy, how cool for you to get snow on Christmas! Send it up here to Ohio. The soup really is good. And makes great leftovers, too. :)

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  6. We are buried in snow (well about 13 inches) up here in Ontario, Heather. Your bewitching soup is the perfect thing to eat while gazing out at other people shoveling.

    Thanks for sharing it! Also, yum.

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    1. "while gazing out at other people shoveling"
      Perfect!

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  7. Your soup sounds fine. But not like my mom's. No one got the exact recipe before she died & we all miss it. We try others but there is nothing like your mothers, you know.

    Pen

    pmettert at yahoo dot com

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  8. Heather, this sounds delicious. A wholesome dinner for a cold night. Yum! Even without the bacon. : ) Have a wonderful Christmas!

    ~ Krista

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  9. Welcome, Heather. Can't wait for the next in your darling series. Love potato soup. This is a keeper!

    Merry, merry.

    Avery / Daryl

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  10. Hi Heather! - I love both of your series, and look forward to reading your new books!
    Love this potato soup recipe!

    Happy Holidays!

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  11. Mary Jane, send some down here!

    Pen, that always seems to be the way. I can make my father-in-law's chicken cacciatore to the letter of his recipe, but it just never tastes as good as his.

    Thanks, Krista! Yep, it's tasty even without the bacon. And if you're a vegetarian, the veggie bouillon cubes are wonderful--we use them exclusively with this recipe.

    Aw, thanks, Avery! Merry, merry to you, too!

    Thanks so much, Melissa! I hope you like the soup--and the new series, too! :)

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