Eat Your Heart Out Bennigan's

Do you remember Bennigan's? There used to be a few locations here in Miami and all but one have closed down. We used to have one fairly close to us in Boston and that one closed down unexpectedly. I remember walking by it one day and seeing it open and lively and then walking by it the following night and seeing it closed and boarded up. I remember the drinks being good and the desserts scandalous, but the one thing I really miss is their baked potato soup. I was in the mood for this soup and came across this recipe that made me relive the satisfaction I used to get from that Bennigan's soup. Because I was giving some of the soup to Cati, my soup wasn't as chunky but it was still perfection. The pictures do not do this soup justice, so you are just going to have to try it for yourself.

 

Edit: I completely forgot I wanted to dedicate this post to our 15.5 year old poodle, Perla. Branny Boils Over is having a Charity Souper Bowl and for every entry she receives she'll donate $1 to the ASPCA. Here the most recent picture of Perla being tormented by the littlest human:

Baked Potato Soup
Source: Sherry Haupt on AllRecipes.com

6 slices bacon
1/3 cup margarine
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3-1/2 cups milk
2 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 green onions, chopped (I omitted)
1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain, crumble, and set aside.

In a stock pot or Dutch oven, melt the margarine over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk, whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.

Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Mix in bacon, cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted.