Swiss Potato Soup/Lovage

 

Herbs and Butters

Recipe Ladies Family Herb Garden

 

4   medium baked potatoes, peeled and cubed

6   strips bacon, diced

1   small sweet yellow onion, finely chopped

1   stalk celery, finely chopped

1   small carrot, shredded

¼  cup all-purpose flour

3   cups milk

1   cup half-and-half

¼  cup fresh Lovage, * minced

      1   cup grated Swiss cheese 

     Salt and fresh ground pepper

 

In a saucepan, fry bacon until crisp.  Remove bacon and reserve 1 tablespoon of drippings.  Sauté onions, celery and carrots till tender.   In a small bowl, whisk together flour, half-and-half and milk.  Add to onions mixture and bring to a boil.  Cook and whisk constantly for 1 minute or till slightly thickened.  Reduce heat to medium and stir in potatoes and minced Lovage.  Heat through and season to taste.   Remove from heat, stir in Swiss cheese and garnish with crumbled bacon.

Yield:  4 to 6 servings.

 

*Harvest and preparation – For fresh use, harvest young tender leaves as they mature.  Cut early in the morning, just after the dew has evaporated and before the sun is hot.  Discard tough stems.  Place leaves in a colander and rinse under cold running water.  Pat dry with paper towels.  Stack leaves together and roll up.  Cut thin slices with a very sharp knife and mince. 

 

Carolyn Gass Hardimon, M. S.      Home Economist