Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Potato Soup:
- 4 Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 4 slices of thick-cut bacon, cut into pieces
- 4 cups of chicken stock
- 1 cup of milk
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Shredded cheddar cheese for garnish
- Extra bacon, cooked and crumbled, for garnish
- Green onions, thinly sliced, for garnish
For the Italian Panini:
- 2 slices of homemade mozzarella sourdough bread
- 2 slices each of mortadella, sopressata, pepperoni, and capicola
- Bruschetta mix (tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil)
- Grated Romano cheese
- 2 slices of provolone cheese
Instructions
For the Potato Soup:
- In a large pot over medium heat, cook the bacon pieces until crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside on a paper towel to drain, leaving the bacon grease in the pot.
- In the same pot, add the diced onion and garlic. Cook until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
- Add the cubed potatoes to the pot and stir, coating them in the bacon grease. Pour in the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- With an immersion blender, blend the soup until it reaches a creamy consistency. Alternatively, you can blend the soup in batches using a blender.
- Stir in the milk and heavy cream, warming the soup through without bringing it to a boil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve the soup in bowls, topped with shredded cheddar, crumbled bacon, and a sprinkle of green onions.
For the Italian Panini:
- On one slice of sourdough bread, layer the mortadella, sopressata, pepperoni, and capicola.
- Top the meats with a generous spoonful of bruschetta mix and a sprinkle of grated Romano cheese.
- Add the slices of provolone on top of the bruschetta mix and cover with the second slice of bread.
- Heat a panini press or grill pan over medium heat. If using a grill pan, you can press the sandwich down with a heavy object like a cast-iron skillet.
- Grill the panini until the bread is toasted and the cheese has melted, flipping once if using a grill pan.