Sweet Potato Bisque for a Cozy Winter's Night

Sweet Potato Bisque for a Cozy Winter's Night

Ingredients:

1 12 oz. package bacon (I love Trader Joe's Applewood Smoked Bacon)
2 medium sized sweet potatoes cubed (or one very large sweet potato)
1 cup sliced carrots (I use baby carrots)
1 medium Vidalia onion chopped
1 bag of frozen stir fry vegetables (mix of green, red and yellow peppers and onion)
1 can of light-colored beer (I used Keystone Light that someone left at my house)
1 tsp. pepper
6 chicken bouillon cubes
2 bay leaves
6 cups water

Directions:

1.  Cook bacon in a large soup pot until crisp.  Transfer bacon to a plate lined with paper towel and set aside; reserve bacon grease.  

2.  In the soup pot, heat 3 Tbsp. of reserved bacon grease.  Add sweet potatoes and carrots and saute for 5-8 minutes until the potatoes are tender.  Add onion and saute until onion is soft, about 4 minutes.  Add 1 bag frozen stir fry veggies and 1 can of beer and cook on high for 5 minutes.

3.  Add pepper, chicken bouillon cubes and 6 cups of water, bring to a boil.  Turn down to medium low and simmer covered for 30 minutes or until all vegetables are soft.

4.  Use a hand blender to blend soup until think and smooth.  If you don't have a hand blender you can use a blender, but its messier.  After blending the soup, add in the reserved bacon and heat.  Serve hot.