The temperatures here in Georgia have really dropped, making it great weather for hot soups. One of my favorite, easy-to-make soups is this one:

[caption id="attachment_465" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Ingredients for Hashbrown Potato Soup"]<a href="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-465" title="PotatoSoupIngredients" src="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PotatoSoupIngredients-300x278.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="278" /></a>[/caption]

Hashbrown Potato Soup

[caption id="attachment_466" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Sauteing the onion and garlic"]<a href="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-466" title="SauteOnion" src="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SauteOnion-300x186.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="186" /></a>[/caption]

1 small onion, diced

1 tablespoon minced garlic

2 tablespoons butter

Saute onion and garlic in butter, in large saucepan.

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Add 2 cups of water and 1 32 ounce package frozen homestyle hashbrowns - the kind that are in small cube. Let that simmer until the potatoes are cooked through.

<a href="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-467" title="AddPotatoes" src="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AddPotatoes-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

Salt and pepper to taste.

[caption id="attachment_468" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="We like LOTS of fresh ground pepper in this soup."]<a href="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-468" title="Pepper" src="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pepper-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

Optional: chopped ham, bacon pieces, chopped polish sausage. Add the meat at the same time you add the water and the hashbrowns.
<div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter"><dl id="attachment_470" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px;"><dt><a href="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped.jpg"><img title="SausageChopped" src="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SausageChopped-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="224" /></a></dt><dd>Meat is optional in this soup, except at my house. My man likes meat in his soups. Tonight we had some polish sausage on hand.</dd></dl></div>
Pour in 1 12 ounce can evaporated milk. And cook until the soup is hot.

[caption id="attachment_469" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Of course, you may use cream, rather than evaporated milk "]<a href="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-469" title="MilkAdded" src="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MilkAdded-300x226.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="226" /></a>[/caption]

Optional items to add, at the table: sour cream, grated cheese

[caption id="attachment_471" align="aligncenter" width="559" caption="Served with sour cream, cheddar cheese, grapes and bread"]<a href="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-471 " title="SoupDone" src="http://motherhoodstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SoupDone.jpg" alt="" width="559" height="464" /></a>[/caption]