Hearty Baked Soup (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

01 - 4 big russet potatoes (about 2 lbs), peeled and chopped into small cubes.
02 - 3/4 teaspoon of salt.
03 - 6 strips of thick, crispy bacon.
04 - 1 large yellow onion, chopped finely.
05 - 3 minced garlic cloves.
06 - 2 tbsp of butter.
07 - 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour.
08 - 3 1/2 cups of chicken stock.
09 - 2 cups of half-and-half cream.
10 - 3/4 cup of sour cream.
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper.
12 - 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.
13 - 2 tablespoons of diced fresh chives.

# Instructions:

01 - Grate the cheddar cheese and measure out the sour cream and half-and-half. Let them warm up to room temperature.
02 - Dice the bacon into small chunks and fry it low and slow in a deep pot. Stir occasionally, and once it crisps up, scoop it out. Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pot.
03 - While bacon cooks, toss the cubed potatoes into a stockpot, cover them with water, and sprinkle in some salt. Boil gently for around 20 minutes until the potatoes are soft enough to mash. Drain well and lightly mash.
04 - In the pot with the bacon grease, toss in the chopped onion and sauté for 5 minutes or till it softens. Add the garlic and butter, giving it another minute or so to cook.
05 - Sprinkle the flour into the pot, whisking constantly for about a minute to cook out the raw taste.
06 - Pour in the chicken broth, using a spoon to scrape up any stuck-on bits in the pot. Gradually add the half-and-half while stirring, then bring everything to a boil before letting it simmer.
07 - Mix the mashed potatoes, sour cream, and black pepper into the pot. Use a blender or immersion blender to make it smoother if you like.
08 - Slowly sprinkle in the cheddar cheese a little at a time, stirring as it melts. Keep the heat gentle to stop the cheese from clumping.
09 - Top it off with chives and crispy bacon crumbles before serving it hot.

# Notes:

01 - This hearty potato soup is creamy and full of comforting flavors, great when it’s cold outside.
02 - Cheddar, bacon, and chives come together to make something rich and balanced.
03 - For a silkier soup, you can blend it smooth, or leave it thick with potato chunks.

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