Skyrim Vegetable Soup! With Extras!

This is a twist on Potato & Leek Vegetable soup! Skyrim inspired!

Okay Dragonborn, get out your boar meat, butter, carrots, goat cheese, leeks, potatoes, dried elves ear, potatoes, salt, garlic, bread, & a jug of milk!

Just kidding! I promise this recipe is tasty & easy though!

 

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Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4+

Items Needed:

• Large pot
• Measuring Tools
• Potato masher or blender (optional, but recommended)

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 3 carrots, peeled & diced
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 3 leeks, chopped (look below for ease of washing/cutting)
• 2lbs gold Yukon potatoes, chopped (peeled is optional)
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 5 cloves of garlic, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium is what we use)
• Seasonings: 
• 2 teaspoons dried dill
• 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspooons mustard powder
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
• 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 3 bay leaves 
• Optional ingredients:  
• 8oz shredded cheddar cheese
• 8oz (12 strips) bacon (4 strips for topping)
• 3 ribs celery 
• Scallions for topping
• Bread: ciabatta, Italian, garlic, etc. for dipping
  

Directions:

1. In the large pot on medium-high heat, melt the butter and add the garlic, onions, leeks, celery, & seasonings until softened and fragment. About 5 minutes.
2. Add the carrots, potatoes, chicken broth, bay leaves, & thyme. Stir well. Let it look for 20 minutes on medium-high heat. 
3. If you are adding bacon, cook it using your preferred method such as a pan, oven, microwave, etc. Dice 8 strips of bacon once cooked & cooled. Dice the other 4 strips, but keep separate to use as a topping.
4. Turn the heat to medium-low and remove the bay leaves & thyme. Add 1 cup of heavy cream. If you want bacon and/or cheese (recommended), add in 8 strips of bacon. Slowly mix in handfuls of the cheddar cheese at a time to the soup. Add more pepper & salt to taste, if desired.
5. For a thicker soup, use a potato masher to mashed up the chunks. For a thinner soup, you can use a hand blender. You can also put the soup into a regular blender, leaving a hole at the top for heat to escape.
6. Ladle into bowls and garnish with bacon pieces, scallions, & cracker pepper. Serve with bread.

Note: If you aren't used to cooking with leeks, they can be tricky for some to get them clean as dirt has a tendency to hide between the folds. 
Cut off the green tops and the white tip root & discard. Cut the leek in half lengthwise and wash each half under water to get the dirt out. You can also use a colander. After each leek has been washed, they can be chopped.