Potato Soup Cost Breakdown

Cheap, easy and delish. Every cook's dream dinner.

Cost Breakdown:

• 1 tsp olive oil (4 cents)
  
• 1 small onion, chopped (32 cents)
• 4 slices turkey bacon, chopped (63 cents)
• 6 potatoes, peeled, diced & rinsed (50 cents)
• water (basically free)
• garlic powder, salt, pepper, to taste (10 cents)
• 1/4 cup half-n-half cream (12 cents; you can use milk if you prefer)
• 1/8 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (32 cents)
• 1/4 shredded cheddar cheese (25 cents)
• 6 slices turkey bacon, chopped (95 cents)
• 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (25 cents)

Total Cost: $3.48

This made enough for 1 meal for us. Admittedly, I used potatoes of varying sizes. I bought a 10lb. bag about 2 weeks ago and some were going soft. They were stored well, but stuff happens. This was a good way to use up the softies. $1.16 per person and there were no leftovers in my family of 3!

How I Made It:

1. In a soup pot heat olive oil over med-high heat. Add onion and saute for a couple minutes. Then add bacon. When onions are translucent and soft, add potatoes and add water. I don't even fully cover my potatoes. Lots of ends are sticking out here and there.
2. Season with garlic powder, pepper and salt. Turn heat to high and allow potatoes to boil for about 8-10 minutes, until soft.
3. While the potatoes are boiling go ahead and saute the other 6 slices of chopped bacon. When thoroughly heated through and crispy to your liking, set aside.
   
4. When potatoes are soft, turn heat to low and, using a potato masher, mash up some of the potatoes. I only mash up about 2/3 of mine and not too much either. I like it chunky.
5. In a small bowl add the cream and a ladle-ful of the hot soup. Then pour this mixture into soup pot. Do not allow the soup to boil from this point on! Add 1/8 cup Parmesan and 1/4 cup cheddar cheese and blend until melted and mixed through.
6. Serve hot with extra cheddar cheese and bacon to garnish.