Best Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 12 oz bacon 
• 1.5 cups onion chopped
• 6 cups chicken broth (from two 32-oz cartons)
• 2 lb baking potatoes cubed peeled
• 0.7 cup butter 
• 0.8 cup flour all-purpose
• 4 cups milk 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 teaspoon pepper freshly ground
• 1 cup finely-chopped ham diced cooked
• 8 oz cream sour
• 10 oz sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• 0.8 cup spring onion sliced

Equipment

• frying pan
• paper towels
• whisk
• dutch oven

Directions

1. In 12-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium heat 6 to 7 minutes or until crisp; drain on paper towels. Crumble bacon; set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons drippings in skillet. Cook onion in bacon drippings over medium-high heat 6 minutes or until almost tender.
2. In 6-quart Dutch oven, mix onion, broth and potatoes.
3. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cook 10 minutes or until potatoes are very tender.
4. Meanwhile, in same skillet, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour with whisk until smooth. Cook and stir 1 minute. Gradually stir in 2 cups of the milk.
5. Pour milk mixture into potato mixture.
6. Add remaining 2 cups milk, the salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with whisk, until mixture is thickened and bubbly.
7. Stir in ham, half of the bacon, the sour cream, 2 cups of the cheese and 1/2 cup of the green onions. Cook until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted. Evenly top individual servings with remaining bacon, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/4 cup green onions.