Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 5 large potatoes, diced (yukon gold or russet)
• 3 large carrots, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 cup potato flakes
• 4 cups stock (vegetable or chicken)
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup half & half
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• 1 tbsp garlic
• kosher salt and pepper, to taste

Optional Toppings

• Chopped bacon
• Chives
• Cheddar cheese
• Sour cream
• Saltines or oyster crackers

Directions

1. Melt butter in a pot and sweat the onions, celery and carrots until the onions are translucent
2. Add the potatoes, old bay, thyme and garlic, mix and cook until the seasoning starts to get fragrant (2-3 minutes)
3. Add the stock and water, bring up to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes
4. Add the potato flakes and stir
5. Once the soup starts to thicken up, add the half & half