Creamy Potato Soup With Bacon

• 4 cups potatoes, peeled, diced (1 inch)
• 2 cups potatoes, peeled, diced (1/4-1/2 inch)
• 1 lb bacon, sliced
• 2 cups onions, chopped
• 2 cups celery, chopped
• 2 -4 quarts water
• 1 tablespoon seasoning salt
• 1 tablespoon pepper
• 14 cup chicken soup base
• 2 fresh bay leaves
• 1 -2 pint heavy cream
• cornstarch, slurry (2 parts starch/1 part water)
• salt
• chives, chopped

1. Peel and chop potatoes; rinse and set aside to drain.
2. Chop bacon slices into julienne strips; fry in a large stock pot until slightly crisp.
3. Remove half of the cooked bacon bits and set aside.
4. Add chopped onions and celery to remaining bacon bits and fat, cooking slowly until veggies are tender (10-20 minutes).
5. Stir in potatoes and cover with water.
6. Add more water based on thickness desired.
7. Add seasoning salt, pepper, soup base and bay leaves.
8. Simmer until potatoes are tender.
9. Slowly add slurry 1 Tablespoon at a time to thicken to taste.
10. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
11. Remove bay leaves.
12. Lower temperature; add cream based on taste preferences.
13. Heat soup through and immediately remove from heat.
14. Serve topped with remaining bacon bits and chives.

potatoes, potatoes, bacon, onions, celery, salt, pepper, chicken soup base, bay leaves, heavy cream, cornstarch, salt, chives

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/creamy-potato-soup-with-bacon-244933 (may not work)