H1N1 is rampantly spreading like wildfire around these parts. I can count the people that I know does not have it on 1 hand. So far, 2 people in my house are sick and I've been feeling puny all week. So... that means soup time!
Dad likes to give me his leftover baked potatoes from the day that doesn't sell (PS... if you are local, check out Papa's Place in OKC on S Shields)... or maybe it's because I'd rather feed my huge family with them than to see them go in the trash. I've been coming up with all sorts of ways to reuse them!
I usually only make Potato soup with raw potatoes, but this turned out just as good, if not better and it was definitely quicker!
Baked Potato Soup
1 package of bacon, cooked and broke into pieces. Save pan and drippings for later.
1 small onion diced
1 Tbsp minced garlic
2/3 cup of flour
3 cans chicken broth
4-5 baked potatoes, diced ( I use the big baking potatoes and I kept the peel on)
2 cups milk
garlic powder
salt
pepper
tobasco (optional)
red pepper season all (optional, I happened to have it on hand.)
Cook onions and minced garlic in reserved bacon grease, over medium heat, until translucent.
Add flour and mix until no longer lumpy. Cook about 4-5 minutes until golden brown.
Add broth and whisk until thickened. If you cooked the bacon and onions in a skillet, you will need to move to a large pot or dutch oven now.
Add potatoes, milk, bacon and seasonings to mixture. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Add more seasoning as needed.
On the seasonings, I really didn't put an amount down because I really feel like this is a pour a little and test recipe. Just make it to your liking.
Today is Midwest City High School's homecoming and every year they have a parade that goes right in front of our elementary school, through our neighborhood and back around the outterlying main roads to the high school. We never miss it and we love it. Now that the oldest is in Middle school, they don't get to watch the parade. I was THAT mom that took him out of school for the day so that he wouldn't miss it! ;)
Even with a sicko kid... we had to make it (he's feeling better today and not feverish, if he had been, he would have stayed bundled in the back of the car and we would have backed up to the road to watch, i'm not that evil)
You know what I love most about a parade??? The Band!!! Yup, I DO! Know what else I ALWAYS do at a parade? Cry! I DO! When the band goes marching by and plays their song... I tear up. Never fails. I must be the biggest band nerd ever! Oh... and exciting I might add... the band is in full uniform. In the years past it was just their band tshirts! I'm ECSTATIC!!!
This parade was extra awesome this year... I am so emailing the high school and giving them props. They had several floats. And they were big ole ones at that!
This is what the sick one did the whole time. Stood and watched and let the other kids put candy in the bag(which ended up being completely full by the time we were done). He also had that same look on his face.
I sure hope that the Bombers kick some Jaguar hiney tonight!!! GOOOOO BOMBERS!!!
