Grandma's Potato Soup

I have tried for a very long time to perfect my grandma's potato soup recipe.  It is a non-traditional recipe and I love it!  I have lasting memories of her making potato soup especially for me when I visited.  I don't think that I will ever "nail it".  I'm not sure that it is even possible to duplicate a Grandma's recipe...they always have a way of making it a little extra special.  I have come close to her delicious recipe and I want to share it with you!  *Note:  My grandma didn't measure anything, she just sprinkled and poured until it looked right.  You can easily adjust measurement to obtain the spice level or consistency that you prefer.

Gather Your Ingredients:

• 6 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" pieces
• 5 slices of white american cheese
• 1 t garlic powder
• 1 t onion powder
• 4 cups of milk
• a handful of chopped parsley
• salt and pepper to taste

Make It:

1. Boil the potatoes until they are fork tender.  Drain water and return to pot.
2. Sprinkle the steaming hot potatoes with the spices and then lay cheese over them.  Cover and let sit for 5 minutes to allow cheese to melt.
3. Smash the potatoes to the consistency that you desire.  I like to leave mine lumpy.
4. Return to low heat and slowly whisk in the milk.  Stir occasionally until the soup is warmed through.
5. Taste test to check the spices.  Remove from heat and stir in the parsley.  Serve with scallions, bacon pieces and shredded cheese.

**Variation:  In lieu of using garlic powder and onion powder (the way  my grandma did) toss 4 to 5 whole, peeled cloves of garlic and a small, quartered onion or shallot into the water when cooking the potatoes.  Then mash them all together when they are tender.