Bacon Potato Soup (and some Disney inspiration)

I decided to take advantage of Bacon Week here at joandsue.blogspot.com and share a recipe that was inspired by our recent trip to Disneyland in California. 

We had a fantastic potato soup whilst in Disneyland and I decided to try and replicate it. I think I got pretty close with this one! 

My hubby and daughter and I always have so much fun with our Disney/California food adventures so I decided to share some of our favorites from this trip as well as the recipe for this Disney inspired potato soup. 

Bacon Potato Soup

Ingredients

1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 cup diced celery

1 medium onion, diced

1 large carrot, diced

4 large potatoes, diced

1/4 cup flour

salt & pepper

2 cups chicken broth

4 cups half and half cream

generous dash of hot sauce

Garnish

green onions, diced

bacon, diced

aged cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions

Prep your ingredients first for easier cooking. (I used my mickey bowl to stick with the Disney theme - plus it's a really cute bowl...)

Fry the bacon until crispy.  Remove the bacon but leave the bacon fat in the pan.

Fry the celery, onion, and carrot in the bacon fat until onions soften. 

Add potatoes and cook approximately 5 minutes. 

Turn heat to low and whisk in the flour and salt & pepper. Stir constantly for about 4 - 5 minutes.

Slowly stir in the chicken broth and half of the bacon.

Turn heat to medium/high and bring to a simmer. Cook about 5 minutes or until potatoes are softened. 

Mash the mixture slightly so the soup is creamy.

Add in the half & half cream and simmer for 5 minutes. 

Sprinkle in a generous dash of hot sauce. 

Serve hot.

**NOTE** if soup seems really thick then thin it with a bit more chicken broth.

But don't forget the garnish!!

A little green onion, a little more bacon, and some aged cheddar for good measure.

Mmmmmm! So tasty!

Now, on to some of our favorite Disneyland food finds:

First up - we happened to be there when they were getting ready for Halloween.

There were all sorts of spooky goodies, including these fantastic caramel and chocolate dipped apples.

How amazing are they?!?!

These mile high nachos were so cheesy we couldn't stop eating them!

They were from the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney.

My hubby and I were celebrating our 20th anniversary and decided to splurge on the dessert platter at Goofy's Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel.

Creme Brulee, Chocolate cake and cheesecake, lemon square, and snickerdoodles. 

*siiiiiiigh*

Can you believe how humongous that cinnamon bun is?

It came with 2 eggs and 2 strips of bacon at Millie's - a great place across the street from Disneyland that is a little more budget friendly. So. Much. Tastiness. 

Another Millie's breakfast! 2 eggs, 2 bacon and 2 Belgian waffles smothered in strawberries and whipped cream. 

When can we go back?

One of our repeat favorites from in side Disneyland is the corndogs.

What can I say? They are simply amazing!

That look of shock and wonder on my face - it's because of the MASSIVE zucchini sticks. 

Also from Millie's.

Yeah. We like Millie's a lot.

P.S. - the ranch dipping sauce is made of rainbows and unicorns. Pretty sure.

The last of the Millie's finds - BBQ chicken tortilla salad.

Kenzie's favorite.

I'm not normally a fan of blue cheese BUT this wedge salad from TGIF in Knott's Berry Farm was amazing.

And pretty. 

Last, but not least, the Cajun Pasta - also from Knott's - was just the right amount of spice.

Plus, the portion was ridiculously huge. 

There you have it. 

Disney inspired bacon potato soup and some of our family favorites.

What are your favorite places to eat in Disneyland?

(P.S. - for more of our favorites from our 2011 trip click HERE)

 

We're sharing at these fab linky parties (be sure to check them out!) - Feeding Big, Memories By The Mile, Anyonita Nibbles and New Mrs Adventures