Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 8 medium potatoes, diced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 to 3 carrots, grated
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 8 c. water or part water and part chicken stock
• 1 c. milk
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• dash of pepper
• 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley (to garnish)
• 4 to 8 slices nitrite-free bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled*
• 1 or 2 bay leaves (optional)
• 1 1/2 c. shredded spinach (optional)
• 1/2 to 1 c. grated Cheddar cheese (optional)