Cream of Potato Soup

It's rainy and cool today which makes me want soup, and this is my go to soup recipe. The recipe was originally for Cream of Cauliflower soup and came from one of my sister Rebekah's recipe books. It can also be made into Cream of Broccoli soup, but my favourite is Cream of Potato. Besides, Chris hates cauliflower or broccoli so I can't make those anyway.

Cream of Potato Soup
6-7 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 stick (4 tbsp) butter
2/3 cup onions, diced
2 tbsp flour
3 cups vegetable or chicken broth
2 cups half and half (or milk plus 4 tbsp flour, shaken till mixed well)
1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1/2 - 1 tsp basil
salt, to taste
grated cheddar cheese

Cook potatoes with salt till done. Drain.

Melt butter over low heat, add onions and cook till clear, stir in flour. Cook for 1- 2 minutes and blend in the vegetable/chicken broth.

Cook over medium high heat stirring constantly until boiling.

Add the half and half, worcestershire sauce, basil and salt. Then add the potatoes (as much as you think you'll want in the soup). Stir and bring to boil, then turn the heat down and let it simmer for 10 - 15 minutes, stirring constantly, making sure it doesn't stick to the bottom or burn. I usually add a few handfuls of shredded cheddar cheese to the soup at this point.

Just before serving return to boiling and boil for one minute. Serve with grated cheese on top (and any other toppings you'd like such as green onions, crumbled bacon, etc) and with Garlic Cheese Biscuits.

*Note: Chris says the soup would be good with Kielbasa sausage added into it... I haven't tried it for him yet, but I'll make a note if I do! He has added cooked up some bacon and added it to it and said it was really good.

*Note: I like the flavour of the soup when it's made with the 1/2 and 1/2 instead of the milk and flour, but if you're not as picky as me you might not notice a difference;)

* Note: To make Cream of Cauliflower soup use a medium cauliflower. To make Cream of Broccoli soup use a big bunch of broccoli. Also, when draining the cauliflower or broccoli, save 1 cup of the liquid and use 2 cups of broth and 1 cup of the water from cooking the cauliflower or broccoli.

Enjoy!