It's Winter...You Know What That Means

It's time to make lots and lots of different soups! I love making soup because not only is it super easy, but it also doesn't take a whole lot of effort.  Just some creativity.  You can make your soups as healthy as you would like (and filling), or you can "junk them up."  No matter which way you go, soups are yummy and very comforting to have on a cold winter's night or day.  Oh, and did I mention that it IS possible to make soup for just one person?  Well, one person and maybe a date, or to have enough for seconds. 

Here is a quick, easy, CHEAP, and very satisfying soup I have adapted for just me.

CREAMY POTATO SOUP

You will need the following:

2 or 4 medium sized russet potatoes (4 if you want more thickness)

1 leek (pale green stalk only)

2 cups chicken broth

2 cups water

salt and pepper to taste

What you need to do is:

Cut up potato into one inch chunks

Chop up leeks and set in a bowl of cold water. Swirl them around with you hands a bit. This gets rid of the dirt and it sinks to the bottom of the bowl

Add the chicken stock and water to the pot,

Add the potatoes and leeks

Salt and pepper to taste.

** Important!  Potatoes absorb salt like a sponge soaks up water so add more salt than you normally would and be sure to start with small amounts.  Taste as you add! You can always add more but can not subtract.  Also, you can cook it with just a little and then add salt to the finished product if you would like.**

Brink pot to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and place a lid on the pot.

Let simmer for an hour.  Stir on occasion to keep the potatoes from burning.

Now you can get as creative as you want with your soup.  Potato is an excellent base for all kinds of flavors.  You can add a dash or two of hot sauce.  You can add bits of bacon.  My personal favorite is adding about two teaspoons of curry powder.  (You will soon come to realize that curry is just about my #1 go to spice for many dishes)  I leave it up to you to "play" around with this soup and discover what you like.  Just don't add sugar. That would be a big no no.