What's for Dinner...and the Recipe...

We are back to school very faithfully now.  As I was out this evening, I passed the water park and at first was surprised to see it open.  I was forgetting that we are still in the midst of summer-ha.  Been buried in the books with the kiddos this week.  But we are just getting our rhythm down after all of the summer events that we took off of our studies for.  But the water park did remind me to get back to enjoying the beautiful weather this evening.

One of the best ways for me to keep us on track and allow me to be available to the kids during the school months, is to have dinner in the crock pot before 9 am.  I absolutely love smelling dinner all day long, and who doesn't love that extra little reminder that something did actually get accomplished when the day gets to those hairy, chaotic moments!

This is a favorite, at least amongst a some of us.  It is a creamy potato soup.  I will give the recipe and show my steps as well.  It is very simple and very yummy.

Here is the list of ingredients...

5 lbs russet potatoes-not peeled-and cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
1 medium onion(I use about half due to preferences and health reasons)
5 teas minced garlic( it is 10 cloves if using fresh)
64 oz chicken stock or broth (8 cups)
16 oz of cream cheese, softened

Optional garnishes...

cheddar cheese, bacon, and chives

So let's begin...

 Cut up your potatoes...throw them in the crock...I have a large crock pot and this recipe fills it, just so you know.

 Cut up onions...throw them in...

 Add the 5 teas of minced garlic...

 Pour in the chicken broth....and cook for 6 hours on high...

 Here is how it looks after 6-7 hours...


Soften the cream cheese....

 Now you need to put the crock pot contents through the blender along with the cream cheese.  I add some of the cream cheese to each batch that goes through the blender.  It takes about 6-7 batches to get all of the soup blended and put back in the crock pot.

This is the consistency of the potatoes after blending them.  I like to keep a bit of texture with the potatoes instead of completely making it smooth.  That is all preference though.

 The soup is back in the crock and just needs at least a half hour to warm through-the longer it simmers, the more the flavors blend.  Once you are ready to eat, these are fabulous garnishes!  Cheese, chives, and bacon.

And the finished product...Yum....

This recipes serves eight of us and there is plenty for lunch the next day as well-that makes a happy mama!