Make Ahead Cheesy Potato Soup

We have been having so much rain, I was really in the mood for a warm, creamy, comforting soup. This make ahead cheesy potato soup is perfect for a dreary rainy day. To be honest, I didn't make this soup earlier in the day, and it was a huge mistake. I didn't have time in the morning, and then I just didn't get home until close to dinnertime. Needless to say, my kids didn't get their homework done, and I didn't have time to do the dishes and clean my kitchen that night. I woke up to a messy kitchen, and we had to scramble to get our homework finished before school. Of course, since it was so crazy, I ended up yelling at my kids. It was not a good day, and I vowed to never again cook dinner at dinnertime. It really reminded me of why I do this blog. When I cook dinner earlier in the day, my family runs so much smoother and I'm a better mom.

The Ingredients

6-8 potatoes, peeled and diced

2 stalks celery

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup butter

8 chicken bouillon cubes

water

White Roux Sauce:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

1 canned milk

8 oz. Velveeta cheese, cubed

1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

At Ten O'Clock

Saute onion and celery in butter over medium heat with salt and pepper until onions are soft (8-10 minutes) in a large pot. Add potatoes, bouillons and just enough water to barely cover. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes, turn down heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes while preparing roux.

To prepare roux:

In a medium or large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium to low heat. Slowly add flour and whisk until well blended. Add milk a little at a time, whisking constantly to ensure your roux stays smooth, not lumpy. (I have found that if I use really warm milk, then it stays smooth. If I use cold, or even room temperature milk, I always get lumps. So, I heated my milk in the microwave before I added it to the roux.) Add cheese and stir until completely melted. Add this to the pot with the potatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Before Serving

Re-heat soup and serve!

Family Approval
Initially, I wasn't going to post this soup because I didn't make it ahead of time. However, my family was insistent that I put it on Ten O'Clock Chef because "it is the best soup they've ever eaten." This recipe came from my good friend, Kayleen. She said her mom wanted a really good potato soup recipe so she made this one up. I have to say, it is definitely the best potato soup I've ever eaten. I highly recommend it!

~Jena