The Best Potato Soup Recipe EVER From Facebook

You may have seen the recipe making it's rounds on Facebook for the best potato soup ever. Well I made it and it was awesome. Of course I made some modifications as I always do! First I used left over holiday ham instead of bacon and I added kale for a little green veg spruce up. I also omitted the 1 cup of cream because the soup was plenty creamy from the rue. Get ready for some creamy comfort food perfect for a cold winter day!

Ingredients:
2 1/2 pounds baby red potatoes, sliced into small bite sized pieces
1/2 regular package uncooked bacon, finely diced
1 medium onion, diced
1/4 bunch celery, diced
8 cups milk
4 cups water
4 chicken bullion cubes (use a cup of the hot potato water to dissolve, then use   the cup of hot water in place of one of the above cups of water)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 cup salted butter
3/4 cup flour
1/4 bunch freshly chopped parsley
1 cup whipping cream
***For garnish:***
Shredded cheese
fried bacon bits
chopped green onions

Directions:

1. In a Nonstick 12-Quart Stockpot , boil potatoes in water 10 minutes. Drain and set the potatoes aside until the end. 

2. In sauté pan, cook bacon until crisp.  Drain bacon fat and place on paper towel over plate to drain more.  

3. Add onion and celery to bacon pan over medium-high heat until celery is tender, about 5 minutes. 

4. To the large pan that you boiled the potatoes in, add milk, water, bullion, salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture is very hot, about 8 minutes, stirring often. Do not let mixture boil. 

5. In small, heavy saucepan melt butter. Add flour and mix well. Cook over medium-low heat until mixture bubbles, stirring 2 to 3 minutes to make a roux. 

6. While constantly stirring soup, add roux slowly until soup is thick and creamy, about 4 minutes. 

7. Stir in parsley, reserved potatoes, bacon (reserve some for garnish if desired), celery, onions and cream. 

8. Garnish with cheese, bacon bits, onions or all three. Serve hot!