GGZ Baked Potato Soup

This recipe is from Fine Cooking magazine, like many of my best. Pro Tip: following along in a good magazine will almost always create edible food.

"Serves four", in other words, 2-3 people will devour it because it is so fucking good.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 medium russet potatoes (I use red) about 1/2 lb each
• 1/4 C unsalted butter
• 2 1/2 C sliced leeks (about 2 medium leeks; white and light green parts)
• 2-3 medium cloves garlic (more is unnecessary, this soup is about the potato people)
• Kosher salt and fresh-ground pepper (don't cheap out, your guests will know)
• 2 C chicken broth
• 1/2 C milk
• 1/2 C sour cream
• 4 thick slices of bacon, cut into 1/2" dice
• 1 C grated sharp cheddar
• 2 T thin sliced scallion or chive

Tools:

• 2 large soup pots
• 1 blender
• cutting board and knife

Step 1

Bake the potatoes. Your choice. Either use leftover baked potatoes the day after, oven them at 375 for an hour, or microwave ~10 minutes (15?). It doesn't matter, they go in the soup so no one will be able to tell. Just remember to spear them all over with a fork so they don't explode. Anyways, let them cool completely afterwards or they won't chop right. Don't be lazy! Get a wire rack or something, you douche!

Step 2

Melt the butter in a soup pot over medium-low. Add the leeks and garlic, whip a little salt on there, and cook, prodding occasionally, about 8-10 minutes until they're soft and not burnt. Add the broth and 2 C water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.

Interlude

Fry up that bacon nice and crisp, and then let it dry on some towels. You want CRUNCH factor here, guys. 8-10 minutes is the recommended, Ratri did this part so I don't remember.

Now take the biggest potato and cut it on half lengthwise. Scoop out of the flesh in one piece from one half of it. Cut that into half-inch cubes and set aside over next to the bacon. Take the other half and the other potatoes and chop them coarse. Add those potatoes to your simmering pots around the 20 minute mark.

Step 3

Take that simmering pot and turn off the damn flame. Pour half of it in a blender, and puree it until very smooth. Pour into your clean pot. Repeat with the rest of the soup. Reheat it on medium low.

While it's reheating, whisk the milk and sour cream together. Now whisk that into the soup with half the cheese. Stir in the diced up potato and let it get all melty. If it's really sludgy thick thin it with water, but it should be all set.

Salt and pepper it if you like (it looks fancy). Now plop some in a bowl, and sprinkle the cheese, bacon, and scallions or chives on top. OMG! Pretty!

Step 4

Eat it, moron!

Step 5

Kill your friends and eat their soup.