To Cook or Not to Cook: Panera's Cream Cheese Potato Soup & Bread Bowls

Sunday, January 3, 2010

I discovered these recipes on Recipezaar during the fall & ever since then they have been making an appearance on our table on a regular basis. Everyone just loves this soup, even the kids. I love serving it in bread bowls & the family loves eating it that way too. Great for a cold, snowy day like today.

Sorry for the blurry picture. Nearly forgot to take one...

Panera's Cream Cheese Potato Soup
Original recipe can be found here.
Serves 4- 6

1/2 lb mild Italian Sausage, cooked & drained
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
1/4 cup minced onion
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cut into chunks (room temperature)

Instructions:
Combine broth, potatoes, onion, and spices. Boil on medium heat until potatoes are tender.
Smash a few of the potatoes to release their starch for thickening. Stir in the sausage meat. Reduce to low heat. Add cream cheese. Heat, stirring frequently, until cheese melts.

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Bread Bowls for the Bread Machine
Original recipe can be found here.
Serves 4

1/2 cup warm water (110 - 115 degrees)
1/2 cup warm milk (110 - 115 degrees)
1 egg (room temperature)
2 tablespoons butter (softened)
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
cornmeal, for baking pan

Instructions:
Beat the egg and place along with milk & water in microwave container. Microwave for 40 seconds on high.
Place in bread machine in accordance to your machine. Add remaining ingredients and set on dough cycle.
Once cycle is complete, take out dough to a floured surface & cut into 4 equal sizes. Don't work the dough too much, just enough to shape into rounds. Spread a thin layer of cornmeal on baking pan. Place all four dough rounds on pan and cover with thin towel to let rise in non-drafty area for about an hour.
Once doubled, bake in pre-heated oven at 350º for 20-25 minutes. Or until golden brown.
For the bowls, cut a thin layer across top and I use the back of a spoon to press the dough in and around the bowl. Then I put back in the oven at 500º for 2-3 minutes. This makes a nice, hearty bread bowl. Fill with hot soup or stew.