Potato and Kielbasa Soup with Cheese

It's officially count down to Xmas time so I got my vintage Santa measuring spoon holder out.  He has a spoon in each hand.

And two sticking out of his back.

Today the after school kids are getting a very hearty, healthy soup.  Here is the basic recipe, I made this X 5.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds potatoes, cut into bite-size chunks
• 1½ - 2 pounds smoked sausage sliced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 stalks of celery diced
• 1 cup diced sweet peppers
• 2 diced carrots 
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Dice the carrots, onions and celery.  Saute' them along with the diced peppers for a couple ofminutes.  Add the stock and the cubed potatoes.  I also added broccoli and kale.  Add the broth and bring to a low boil.  Reduce to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender.  Add the sliced sausage and cook until heated through. Add the cream and the seasoning.  Taste it and adjust if necessary.
2. Stir in shredded cheese until melted. Serve immediately.

I made honey butter cornbread to go with it.

It's cold and damp here today so the kids will love this.  BTW....I think a lot of you think these kids are very young, they aren't.  The after school kids are all between 15 and 17. Which helps to explain why they are capable of eating 18 quarts of this soup at one sitting