Memaw's Potato Soup

I don't have a photo for this one yet, but this dish has been on my mind so I wanted to share the recipe now. I'll add photos as I get them taken.



I've always been a fan of potatoes. I love them baked, fried, mashed, and especially in a thick creamy soup topped with crispy bacon bits. It's the latter version that is featured here. When I was a kid, as soon as the first cold front would hit, my mom would make a huge batch of this soup. She would keep it in a big tupperware tub in the fridge and she and I would serve it up 3 meals a day for as long as it lasted.

When I left home for college, this meal was among those that I missed the most. When I came home for Thanksgiving, my mom made a special batch for me so that I could take it back with me to my little dorm room. And for as long as I can remember, each time I got sick or had a rough day, I would call my mom and petition for a special delivery of a bowl of my favorite comfort food.

Memaw's Potato Soup

Ingredients:

3 - cups peeled, chopped potatoes

1 - small onion, chopped

1.5 - cups whole milk

1 - Tbs all purpose flour

1 - cup water

Salt and pepper to taste

cooked crumbled bacon (optional)

Instructions:
1. Boil potatoes and onions in water under tender (about 20 minutes).
2. Add flour to milk, mixing until well blended.
3. Add milk mixture to potato/onion mixture
4. cook on low heat until thickened, stirring constantly.
5. Salt and pepper to taste.
6. Spoon into soup bowls and garnish with shredded cheese and crumbled bacon, if desired.

It wasn't until I had moved off to college that my mom shared that this recipe had been handed down from her mom. I shouldn't have been surprised. I think my Memaw served potatoes at almost every meal. I remember well fighting with my cousin, Sharon, for the first helping of Memaw's mashed potatoes at every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

I don't need to tell you that I adored this lady. Just look at the smile on Logan's face as he played with her in her back yard on a fine fall afternoon! I honestly do not ever recall being down in the dumps in her presence. I remember trips to the 5 and Dime (seriously!) to pick up craft supplies before the start of a sleep over. I remember long, drawn-out games of scrabble and spades. And I remember clouds of perfumed after-bath powder, Chanel No. 5, to be exact. I remember her big fluffy bed and giggling late into the night. I remember the basketball hoop in the parking lot of their TDC housing complex as well as countless games of "horse" with my cousins. And I remember her smile, always her smile.

My mom had a bright, sunny disposition and I'm quite certain she inherited that from her mother.

It's kind of funny. I strongly favor my father's family in appearance. My mom was the same way. She greatly favored her paternal grandmother in looks. But as I sit here and think back, I can see how much of her personality was a direct influence from my Memaw.