Winter Time Comfort Food Recipes : Creamy Cheesy Potato Soup

As the weather outside gets colder, my thoughts go to hot chocolate, hot soups, cornbread, chili and crackers.
Are you with me?
Here are some of my favorite winter time recipes.

Creamy Cheesy Potato Soup
This is a simple, inexpensive soup to make. Adapt this recipe to personal preferences. Consider adding broccoli or sausage for variation. My dad made this one when I was little. Now that I'm the cook, I top iit with shredded cheese, chives and bacon bits. It's like a baked potato soup! You could even consider leaving the peelings on the cooked cubed potatoes.

Ingredients :

• 4 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 medium onion, quartered
• 1 (14-ounce) can vegetable or chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk, divided
• 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3 cups milk

Cooking Instructions :

1. In a large soup pot over medium-high heat, add potatoes, carrots, onion, and vegetable or chicken broth. Cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from heat.
2. While vegetables are cooking, make cream sauce. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter; add flour, stirring constantly until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Add milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat. Add cheddar cheese and dill weed. Stir until cheese is melted. Set aside.
3. In a food processor or blender, in small batches, puree potato mixture with some of the milk. Pour blended potato mixture back into the soup pot. Add the cheese sauce, sour cream, remaining milk, salt, pepper, and chili pepper. Stir until thoroughly blended. Return to medium heat and heat until warm. Remove from heat and serve in soup bowls.