PIONEER WOMAN SLOW COOKER POTATO SOUP RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon strips and cook until golden brown, 6-8 minutes. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve 2 pieces for garnish.  Crumble the remaining 4 pieces. 
  Place the crumbled bacon, potatoes, celery, leek, garlic, stock, salt, thyme sprigs, and pepper in the base of a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Put the lid on the slow cooker, and cook on high for 4 hours (or low for 6 to 8 hours) until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.  Remove the thyme sprigs and discard. Use an immersion blender to blend the soup to a semi-smooth consistency, leaving small chunks of potato and vegetables for texture. Stir in the sour cream. (Add 1/4 - 1/2 cup of water, to thin the soup out to your desired consistency). Serve in bowls, garnished with cheese, chives, additional sour cream, and the reserved bacon slices crumbled over top. 

Steps:

• Add bacon pieces to a soup pot over medium heat and cook bacon until crisp and fat is rendered. Remove the bacon from the pot and set it aside. Pour off most of the grease, but do not clean the pot. Return the hot to medium-high heat and add the onions, carrots, and celery. Stir and cook for 2 minutes or so, then add the diced potatoes. Cook for 5 minutes, seasoning with salt, pepper, and Cajun spice. Pour in the broth and bring it to a gentle boil. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are starting to get tender. Whisk together the flour and the milk, then pour into the soup and allow the soup to cook for another 5 minutes. Remove half to 2/3 the soup and blend in batches in a blender/food process until completely smooth. (***USE CAUTION WHEN BLENDING HOT SOUP; IF POSSIBLE, ALLOW THE SOUP TO COOL BEFORE BLENDING***) Pour it back into the soup pot and stir to combine. Let it heat back up as you taste for seasonings, adding more of what it needs. Stir in cream, then stir in parsley, reserving a little for garnish. Serve in bowls garnished with parsley, grated cheese and crisp bacon pieces.