Dinner tonight..... Loaded baked potato soup

Dinner tonight was Baked Potato Soup. I know, soup in the middle of Summer. Crazy, right? Well, one of my Uncles gave me lots of red potatoes that he got from his garden. So, this is one of the best ways I like to use them.

Here is the recipe that I use:

Baked Potato Soup

4 large baking potatoes, cooked in the microwave or oven and cubed
2/3 Cup butter or margarine (I always use butter)
2/3 Cup all purpose flour
6 Cups milk
Salt and Pepper to taste
4 Green onions chopped
12 sliced bacon cooked and crumbled
1 1/4 Cups grated cheddar cheese
8 oz carton Sour Cream

Melt butter over low heat in large pot, add flour and stir till smooth. Gradually add milk, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick and bubbily. Add potatoes (I always add the potato skin also, if you don't like it you could remove it before adding to the soup), salt and pepper, green onion, bacon bits and cheese. Stir in sour cream. I also usually reserve a little of the cheese and green onion to top the soup with.

I never use the recipe exactly as the recipe is stated. I generally used precooked bacon bits in lieu of having to cook bacon and crumble it. I also like to add Tastefully Simple Onion Onion in place of the fresh onion. I just add it to the butter and flour as it is becoming thick. Tastefully Simple Bacon Bacon could also be used instead of real bacon. It is soy. I have used it before also in the soup. With the cheese I just usually put how much in that looks right. With the sour cream, some times I have 8 oz of sour cream, other times not. The only thing I stay pretty consistent on is the butter, flour and milk.

I'm having a hard time getting pictures of the food. I was running out of the house to take my kids to VBS for their 3rd week. They haven't been in a few weeks so they were ready to go again. All that I have done is asked if they want to go and they say YES with excitement every time. My hubby had to finish the soup for me tonight and he forgot to add the bacon bits. I just added some to the top for our leftovers. This is the best potato soup recipe that I have ever cooked and/or had. Hope you enjoy!