Varsity Chowder

This recipe is now one of my all-time favorite soup recipes. It would be good for tailgate parties, brunches, or winter luncheons. I did add a couple extra potatoes just because I love them and I skipped the bacon, but I posted it as written. Recipe courtesy of Beyond Burlap, Idaho's Famous Potato Recipes Junior League of Boise. DELICIOUS!

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2  cups potatoes, diced
• 2  cups water, boiling
• 1⁄2 cup carrot, sliced
• 1⁄2 cup celery, sliced
• 1⁄4 cup onion, chopped
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
• 1⁄4 cup butter
• 1⁄4 cup flour
• 2  cups milk
• 2  cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 8  slices bacon, crisp-fried and crumbled

Directions

1. Combine the potatoes, water, carrot, celery, onion, salt, and pepper in a 2-quart saucepan.
2. Simmer, covered for 10 minutes.
3. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.
4. Stir in the flour.
5. Cook until bubbly, stirring constantly but do not brown.
6. Stir the milk into the flour mixture.
7. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly.
8. Add the cheese.
9. Cook until the cheese melts, stirring to blend well.
10. Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle with the bacon.