Cheesy Potato Soup

I know what you're thinking. "You mean she's not dead!? Or lost?! Or living in the middle of the woods with only nature for company?!" The answer to all of those questions is NO! I am still alive and kicking, and back with a new recipe for you. Before we get started, though, let me at least offer an excuse or two as to why I've been M.I.A. for a few months. Firstly, I got a new job! Yay! And may I just say, I LOVE IT. Seriously, I couldn't be happier in another job. Because of that, however, my free time has been drastically reduced, and I haven't been around to update. I know, though, that's not much of an excuse. Secondly, and more than likely the real excuse for my absence is that my father passed away very suddenly. Actually, I began writing this post the day that he died, and just didn't have the heart to pick it back up right away. Yes, I know it is terribly sad, and I do miss him, but I'm back, and ready to share some more yummy and crafty things with you guys!

I love comfort food. I especially love comfort food whenever I'm sick, or feeling down. Not too long ago, I came down with a terrible cold. I felt as though my entire head was about to explode because of the congestion, and I had this fantastic fever that made me feel hot and cold all at the same time. Yeah, I love being sick. During this time, I didn't really feel like doing anything but stretching out on my couch under a blanket, but since the husband was working, I had to eat at some point. Usually when I'm sick, my Mom makes me potato soup. It is comfort food to me, and I love hers. During this lovely period of sickness, however, my mom was thirty minutes away, and I certainly wasn't going to ask her to drive all the way to my house simply to make some potato soup for me. So, I took to the kitchen, blanket still wrapped around my shoulders, and this is what I came up with.



And may I just say? Its good. Very good. It creamy, and cheesy, and just tasty all around. I've been told that it tastes quite a bit like the potato soup from Panera Bread, but since I've never had it, I couldn't tell you. Regardless, its very good. Comfort food at its finest. I swear, I felt better as soon as I had a bowl. I hope that you enjoy it just as much as I did, and continue to do. In fact, we're having this for dinner tonight!

Cheesy Potato Soup

You need:

4 cups of potatoes, peeled, rinsed, and cubed

1 8 oz. block of cream cheese, cubed

4 cups of water

4 chicken flavored bouillon cubes

1 Tbsp of seasoning salt

1 teaspoon of pepper

Shredded cheese (optional)

Bacon (optional)

Green onion (optional)

Directions:

1. Put 4 cups of water and chicken flavored bouillon cubes in a pot, and heat until boiling.

2. Add 4 cups of peeled, rinsed, and cubed potatoes, and boil until soft.

3. Using the back of a ladle, or a potato masher, mash the potatoes to the desired consistency. I like my potato soup with hardly any big pieces of potato, but mom likes hers with chunks of potato. To each his or her own, I suppose. Mashing the potatoes will release starch, also, which will thicken the soup.

4. Add the cubes of cream cheese, and stir until melted.







5. Add the seasoning salt, and pepper, and stir well.

6. Serve, and garnish with green onion, bacon, and cheese, if you'd like.

7. ENJOY!

Seriously, this is SOOOO good! I hope you enjoy it just as much as the husband and I do, though I hope you don't have to use it for comfort food through a cold like I did. Happy cooking!