Potato Soup with Mom's Salt Cod Fritters

Ingredients

1/2 pound bacon
1 medium onion, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
6 cups chicken stock
2 1/2 pounds Idaho potatoes, peeled and diced large
1 bouquet garni
Salt and white pepper
1/2 cup cream
For the Fritters:
1 cup mashed potatoes, in spreadable form
1 1/2 cups salt cod, soaked for 3 days, rinsed, flaked
1 egg
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
2 tablespoons minced onions
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon baking powder
Milk to constitute, about 1 cup
Flour to bind, about 1 cup
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Instructions

Preheat the fryer. In a stock pot, render the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon and reserve for garnish. In the bacon fat, saute the onions, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the garlic. Add the stock, potatoes, and garni. Bring the liquid up to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Discard the bouquet garni. Remove from the heat. Using a hand-held mixer puree the potatoes until smooth. Finish the soup with the cream. Season with salt and pepper. Return the soup to the stove and bring up to a simmer. For the fritters: In a mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, salt cod, egg, parsley, minced onions, garlic and baking powder. Add enough milk and flour to form a batter. (The batter should be firm enough to spoon into hot grease and form a ball-like shape.) Spoon one tablespoon at a time into the hot grease. Fry the fritters for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly for overall browning. Remove from the fryer and drain on a paper-lined plate. Season with Essence. Ladle the soup in to shallow bowls. Garnish with the fritters, crispy bacon and parsley.

Yield: 6-8 servings