Spicy Potato Soup

Ingredients

2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks

1 red bell pepper, diced

1/2 onion, diced

1 jalapeno, minced

1-2 small carrots, diced

1 cup broccoli, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons oil

4 cups chicken broth

salt and pepper, to taste

1/4 cup flour

1 cup milk (you can substitute it for any non-dairy milk, just make sure it's unsweetened)


Directions

Step 1:  Heat oil over medium high in a large pot.  Add all the vegetables except for the broccoli.  Simmer, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes. 

Step 2:  Add broccoli, chicken broth, salt and pepper, and bring to a boil.

Step 3:  Whisk together flour and milk until all the clumps are dissolved.  Add mixture to soup and stir until thoroughly mixed in.

Step 4:  Check potatoes to see if they're done, and if not, continue boiling, stirring frequently until potatoes are tender and soft.

Don't worry about being too particular with this recipe.  Fine tune it to suit your personal taste.  Hate broccoli, but love cauliflower?  Substitute it out.  Don't feel like peeling potatoes?  Leave the skins on.  Don't have any jalapenos?  Use 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper instead.  Have fun with it!

Also, to make the carrot hearts in the picture I did this!

SK