Baked Potato Soup

I found this recipe over at Our Best Bites (one of my favorite cooking blogs!) and knew I had to try it! I've got to say this will become a regular at our house. Everyone really liked it and it was really easy to throw together. If you like baked potatoes you'll like this soup!

Baked Potato Soup

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2 Tbs butter

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 C flour

4 1/2 C low-fat or skim milk

1 14oz can chicken broth

4 medium baking potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds) baked (you can "bake" them in the microwave by just piercing them with a fork a few times and then cooking them for 5 minute intervals until a knife easily pierces through them. Mine took about 15 minutes all together.)

2 C grated cheddar (or sharp cheddar) cheese, divided

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1 1/2 C light sour cream, divided

1/2 C chopped green onions, divided

8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided

Melt butter in a stock pot over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Add flour to pan. (mine was pretty lumpy because there was too much flour and not enough butter, so next time I would probably double the butter and use 4 Tablespoons) Slowly add milk a little at a time while whisking constantly to eliminate lumps. Whisk until smooth and then add chicken broth. Bring soup just to a simmer and heat until thickened, stirring often, about 5 minutes.

Once soup is thickened, turn heat down to medium-low. Cut potatoes in half length-wise and use a spoon to scoop out potato flesh into the pot. Use a wooden spoon to smash potatoes, breaking up large clumps. Add 1 1/2 C grated cheese and salt and pepper and stir until cheese is melted. Remove pan from heat and stir in 3/4 C sour cream, 1/4 C green onions, and 4 strips of the crumbled bacon. Add additional salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and top with each serving with the remaining sour cream, onions, cheese, and bacon.

(I didn't have any green onions so just left them out and then when we were eating dinner my hubby Tony told me "you know what would make this better?" His answer was green onions...so next time I'm going to make sure I have some before I make this soup!:))