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Leek & Potato Soup

Tonight I made a few things out of a cook book Carmel bought me for Christmas. The book is called Irish Pub Cooking, and it's filled with some amazing looking things that I will probably end up making all of them at some point. For tonight I mad the Leek & Potato Soup with some Irish Soda Bread to go with. Here's how it looked.

Man, this hit the spot on this cold night. I think that I will make this dish probably at least a few times a month now, if not more. It's so simple and delicious. It all it takes about a half hour to make both the soup and the bread.

Here are the recipes if you want to try them.

Leek & Potato Soup

4 tbsp butter
1 onion, chopped
3 leeks, sliced
2 potatoes, cut into 3/4" cubes
3 1/2 cups vegetable stock
salt and pepper
2/3 cup light cream, to serve (optional)
2 tbsp snipped fresh chives to garnish

- melt butter in a large pan over medium high heat, add the onion, leeks, and potatoes and saute for a few minutes until all is soft, but not brown. Pour in the stock and bring to a boil, lower the heat and cover. Keep cooking for an additional 15 min.

- transfer the cooked mixture to a blender and process until smooth.

- move back to the pan and serve. Garnigh with chives and add salt and pepper to taste. 

Irish Soda Bread

Vegetable oil, for brushing
4 cups all-purpose four, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 3/4 cups buttermilk

- preheat oven to 425. Brush a baking sheet with oil.

- Sift flour, salt and baking soda. Mix a well in the center and pour in most of the buttermilk. Mix well. Dough should be very soft but not too wet. Add remaining buttermilk if needed.

- Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured counter and knead lightly and briefly. Shape into an 8-inch round. Place on baking sheet and cut a cross in the top with a sharp knife.

- Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown. The loaf should sound hollow when tapped on. Serve warm.

 I think the only way you could possibly improve this meal is if you add a little bacon to the leek and potato soup. Other then that it was perfect.