Recipe Challenge Day 22: Potato Soup

Not sure how I never made potato soup before. Maybe I forgot or it just simply didn’t make a grand impression, who knows! Either way, this recipe came from a family friend and the family loved it. It was thick , creamy and hearty for the still chilly days we’re having.

4 1/2lbs  baking potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 carrots, thinly sliced
1 {8 oz} package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (10oz)  can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
2 cups milk
2 cups water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
8 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
Shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large pot, add the water them cover to bring to a boil. Once it boils, bring down to a simmer and cook till tender.
 In another bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add cream of chicken soup, beating well then gradually add milk, beating until smooth again.
Add milk mixture to vegetable mixture. Stir in 2 cups water, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil again and then reduce heat and simmer. You can either mash up the potatoes at this point which I skipped because they boiled down so tender anyways they were small or just leave as it.  Didn’t matter to me really.  Pepper to taste and top each serving with bacon and cheddar cheese.