Potato Soup with Mom's Salt Cod Fritters

• 1/2 pound bacon
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 2 1/2 pounds Idaho potatoes, peeled and diced large
• 1 bouquet garni
• Salt and white pepper
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1 cup mashed potatoes, in spreadable form
• 1 1/2 cups salt cod, soaked for 3 days, rinsed, flaked
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons minced onions
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Milk to constitute, about 1 cup
• Flour to bind, about 1 cup
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1. Preheat the fryer.
2. In a stock pot, render the bacon until crispy.
3. Remove the bacon and reserve for garnish.
4. In the bacon fat, saute the onions, about 3-4 minutes.
5. Stir in the garlic.
6. Add the stock, potatoes, and garni.
7. Bring the liquid up to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
8. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
9. Discard the bouquet garni.
10. Remove from the heat.
11. Using a hand-held mixer puree the potatoes until smooth.
12. Finish the soup with the cream.
13. Season with salt and pepper.
14. Return the soup to the stove and bring up to a simmer.
15. For the fritters: In a mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, salt cod, egg, parsley, minced onions, garlic and baking powder.
16. Add enough milk and flour to form a batter.
17. (The batter should be firm enough to spoon into hot grease and form a ball-like shape.)
18. Spoon one tablespoon at a time into the hot grease.
19. Fry the fritters for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly for overall browning.
20. Remove from the fryer and drain on a paper-lined plate.
21. Season with Essence.
22. Ladle the soup in to shallow bowls.
23. Garnish with the fritters, crispy bacon and parsley.

bacon, onion, garlic, chicken stock, potatoes, bouquet garni, salt, cream, mashed potatoes, salt, egg, parsley, onions, garlic, baking powder, milk, flour, parsley

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/potato-soup-with-moms-salt-cod-fritters-recipe.html (may not work)