Meatless Monday! Quick and Easy Potato Soup

I know it's August and crazy hot in most places but it's been rainy here in NC for a few days and that makes me want soup. Warm and creamy soup always helps me to pretend like it's fall, even when it's not actually cold outside. Rainy will do though. It's a cold rain so I will take it. Potato soup is a recipe that can be made millions of different ways, and that's one of the reasons I like it so much. This recipe has directions for a slow cooker or for the stove to make things easier.

My sister gave me this recipe years ago and it has always been warmly welcomed on a cold rainy day. Mine looks a little different than hers does though. The original recipe calls for shredded hash browns but sometimes I use cubed (crazy I know), and the original also calls for chicken stock and country gravy mix. Since I don't eat chicken we can see why that wouldn't work. You could use a vegetable broth but I recommend a stock for more flavor. At the store this week buying the stock (or you could make it of course) then it was $0.19 more for the stock than for 4 cans of broth. Yes please.

I also used peppered gravy mix in this one because none of the country gravy's were vegetarian, chicken fat of course was the culprit. Peppered gravy mix worked just as well though to me. If you of course do eat meat then feel free to mix this up and use chicken broth and top it with bacon or whatever you prefer. I like to top it with sour cream to but I forgot to buy it so cheddar cheese had to do :). Another great thing is that you could add vegetables to it also, I have celery and onion in there for some crunch but you could also add some carrots or even parsnips if you were feeling wild. Throw as many vegetables in there as you can hide if it's for kids and that is necessary. 

My son (who is 3) doesn't like soup, never has. It makes me a bit sad because I really love soup, especially slow cooker soup. On the other hand his favorite snacks are frozen peas or lima beans (actually frozen, as in, never cooked) and carrots so I can really only complain so much. As always if you have any thoughts please feel free to express them in the comments (I do love comments, like every other blogger) :) and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Quick and Easy Potato Soup
Serves 6-8

Ingredients:
- 4 cups vegetarian stock (preferably salt-free)
- 1 packet peppered gravy mix (or country gravy mix)
- 1 (32 ounce) bag hash browns (cubed or shredded)
- 1-2 stalks celery, cut into ¼” pieces
- ½ onion, chopped
- salt & pepper
- Cheddar cheese, if desired
- Sour cream, if desired

Directions:
(Slow cooker method)
1. In a slow cooker whisk together the stock and dry peppered gravy mix. Add the hash browns, celery, and onion.
2. Cook over high heat for 4-5 hours or until potatoes are tender. Season with salt and pepper. Portion into serving bowls. Top with cheddar cheese and/or sour cream, if desired. Serve.

(Stovetop method)
1. Spray a large pot lightly with non-stick cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add the celery and onion. Cook until almost tender, 3-5 minutes. Add in all of the stock except for ½ cup.
2. In a small bowl whisk together the remaining ½ cup stock with dry gravy mix until well blended.
Add to the celery-onion mixture, stir. Add the hash browns and stir. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium and cook for 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Portion into bowls and top with cheddar cheese and/or sour cream, if desired.

Printable recipe
 

Recipe given to me by my sister 

This recipe may be linked up to:

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· Crazy For Crust - Crazy Sweet Tuesday’s
· Alli 'n Sons - Sweet Tooth Friday 
· DJ's Sugar Shack - Whatcha Whipped Up?

· Mrs. Fox's Sweets - Mrs. Fox's Sweet Party 

· Sweet as Sugar Cookies - Sweets for a Saturday 
· Mandy's Recipe Box - Totally Tasty Tuesday's

· A Pinch of Joy - Busy Monday Link Party 

· House of Hepworth's - Hookin up with HoH 

· Cups by Kim - Sweet & Simple Sunday  

· Couponing & Cooking - Mealtime Monday 

· What's Cooking, Love? - Showcase Your Talent Thursday 

· Bacon Time with the Hungry Hungry Hypo - Anything Goes Linky
· Chef in training - Tuesday Talent Show

· Dwell on Joy - Dwell on Friday 

· Six Sister's Stuff - Strut Your Stuff Saturday

· Something Swanky: Desserts & Designs - Sweet Treats Thursday 

· A Slice of Southern - Southern Sundays 

· Me and My Sweets - My Sweet Party