Potato Soup

This is easy and delicious. I searched a lot of recipes before I came up with my own version of this soup. I took the best ideas and put them together for my version. It is pretty yummy.

6 med. size potatoes, peeled and cubed into 1 - 1 1/2 inch cubes
3 carrots, chopped
3 stalks of celery , chopped
1 large onion, chopped
6 slices of bacon cut into thin little pieces
4 Tbl. unsalted butter
8 Cups chicken broth
1 cup half and half
1/2 cup half and half mixed with 1 Tbl.all purpose flour
1-2 tsp. salt
 1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. cajun seasoning
2 Tbl. minced parsley

Put soup pot over med-high heat and add the cut up bacon to the pan and fry till crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon to a bowl and set aside. Drain the rest of the bacon grease out of the pan and place back on the burner. Add the butter to pan and when it has melted throw in the onion, celery, and carrots and fry for 5 minutes  or till the veggies start to get tender. Add in the cubed potatoes, salt, pepper and cajun seasoning. stir. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer till potatoes are very tender. Taste for seasoning. You can add more salt, pepper or cajun seasoning to your taste. I know that I adjust it every time I make it. Using an immersion blender, blend till about half the potatoes and veggies are blended up. Next pour in the 1 cup of half and half and continue to cook and bring back to a boil and mix in the half and half blended with flour. Stir to thicken the soup slightly. Add the parsley and stir. How much flour and milk you use is really dependent on how thick you liken your soup. Always adjust seasoning at the end as needed.
Enjoy!