Dinner: Potato Soup With Shrimp

Hearty potato soup with chunks of shrimp is wonderful on a cool fall day.

Ingredients

1 lb medium shrimp
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup half-and-half
4 cups milk, whole, reduced fat (2%), or low fat (1%)
2 chicken bouillon cubes, dissolved in 1/2 cup hot milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
8 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 medium carrots, diced about the same size as the onion
1 small onion, diced
1/2 stick butter
sharp cheddar cheese, grated, for garnish
1 sprig dill, for garnish (optional)
bacon, cooked crisp and cut into pieces for garnish

Instructions

In a 4-quart saucepan, melt the butter and sauté the onion and carrots until both are slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the potatoes, milk and dissolved bouillon cubes. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are very soft and some of them have begun to dissolve into mush. Add the half-and-half, salt and pepper.
In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups lightly salted water to a boil. Add the shrimp all at once and stir well. Watch the shrimp closely; as soon as they all turn pink, about 2-3 minutes, turn off the heat and drain. The shrimp should be slightly undercooked. When they are cool, peel them, and chop roughly into big chunks. Add the shrimp to the soup and stir well. Serve soup sprinkled with bacon bits and grated cheddar cheese and garnished with fresh dill.
Cook's Note: If you don't have access to shrimp, use corn.