Cheddar ale soup #2

I have an older recipe for cheddar ale soup but I thought I'd try making it a different way, based on my bacon and cheddar potato chowder recipe. This was good, I'd definitely make it this way in the future.

Serves 2, multiply as necessary. I wasn't sure how it would taste, and I don't like to have that much leftover soup, so I often make only two servings. Since it takes 30-40 minutes, you may want to make a larger batch!

1 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. olive oil 1/2 onion, chopped 1 stalk celery, chopped 1 small carrot, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 1 slice cooked bacon, chopped 1/8 cup flour 4 oz. beer [can probably reduce this, and add more water instead] 8 oz. water 1 tbsp. More Than Gourmet roasted chicken stock concentrate (or substitute chicken stock in place of the water) small potato, peeled and diced 4 oz. heavy cream 2 oz. cheddar cheese, grated (or at least diced) salt freshly ground white pepper Tabasco or other hot sauce (optional)

Here the mise en place:

Add the butter and olive oil to your soup pot over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook for a few minutes.

Add the garlic, celery and carrot and cook for a several minutes until softened, but not browned. Be especially careful to not burn the garlic.

And the bacon and cook for a minute. Add the flour. Add more oil or butter, if there are still bits of dry flour after stirring. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring every minute or two, and making sure the vegetables don't burn.

Add the, 4 oz. beer, 8 oz. water and 1 tbsp. stock concentrate and bring to boil, stirring frequently. I used Saranac Pale Ale, but use whatever you'd like.

Add the potatoes, bring back to a boil if necessary, then lower the heat to a very low boil. Cook for 10 minutes.

Add the 4.0 oz. heavy cream and 2.0 oz. cheddar cheese. Increase the heat and bring to almost a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Stir every few minutes.

Season with salt, freshly ground white pepper and Tabasco sauce (optional).

Makes two delicious servings! I had one with a small Caesar salad.