Fall is in the air, let's make Smoked Potato Soup

Brr... yes, really. In Southern Arizona I woke up to 40 degrees and I had to run out and get the fixings for my family's Smoked Potato Soup.

Here's how to make this hearty and soul warming family favorite.

You will need:
1 pound pepper bacon fried crisp
1 tblspn of bacon drippings
1 onion
1 block cream cheese
1 pound shredded cheddar cheese
2 cans chicken broth
2 cans of water
1 30 oz pkg. Of shredded frozen potatoes
1 can condensed milk
1 cup of mashed potato flakes (for thickening if needed)
Salt
Garlic
Liquid smoke
Worceshestire
Sour cream
Chives
Sour dough bowls
Crock Pot
Wooden spoon

Pour chicken broth and water into crock pot. Add 1 cup chopped onion half of your chopped and fried bacon, 1 pkg of cream cheese and entire bag of potatoes. Add 2 tsps of liquid smoke, 2 tsps of worchestire , 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic. Cook on high until potatoes are very soft and cheese has melted. (About 2 hours) stir often.

Once everything is cooked, add can of milk, 1 cup shredded cheddar. Add the rest of your bacon, salt, pepper and garlic to taste. If you want it nice and thick, add about 1/2 cup of mashed potato flakes. (The thicker you make it, the better it sits in the bread bowls. Also, you will need to double on liquid smoke and Worcestershire) Serve in a hollow sour dough bowl and top with more cheddar and a scoop of sour cream and chopped chives.