MOM'S CREAM OF POTATO SOUP WITH BACON

Steps:

• 1. In a large dutch oven or boiling pot place your potatoes , onions and celery and cover with just enough water to be about 1" above the potatoes. Add the garlic and pepper but NOT the salt yet. Cover the pot with the lid ajar and bring to a hard boil.
• 2. Mean while cut up your bacon into about 1" pieces and fry over medium / high heat.
• 3. Fry the bacon pieces until it's nicely browned & crisp.
• 4. Once the bacon has become really crisp but not burnt , than you pour grease and all the bacon into your boiled potatoes and veggies. Yes I said grease and all!! Be careful because the hot grease hitting the boiling water will splatter up.
• 5. Once the veggies are tender (about 20 minutes) pull off the burner and add the canned milk. Now this is when you salt your soup ( if you salt it before adding the milk you take a chance of the milk curdling).
• 6. To thicken up the soup add the instant potatoes , the amount depends on how thick you like your soup to be. Add a little than stir up and wait to give it time to swell and thicken your soup up , if it's not thick enough add some more. If you get it too thick just add milk. This is when I will sample it and make sure that it's got enough seasoning to my liking , if not I add more salt and garlic powder.
• 7. Note : This soup freezes really good for another quick meal. My sister makes a clam cowder by adding clams and corn to this soup.