Potato Soup

from The New Spanish Table by Anya von Bremzen

2-4 servrings
1 1/2 lbs baking potatoes (Yukon Gold)
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
1/2 c slivered almonds (blanched whole)
6 large garlic cloves, peeled
salt and pepper
4-5 cups homemade or good boxed chicken stock
a pinch of saffron, pulverized in mortar
2 t sherry vinegar
parsleycrumbled
crisp bacon for garnish (shredded serrano ham or proscuitto)

Peel and cut the potatoes into irregular chunks this way: Insert the tip of a small sharp knife into each potato, and twist it, until a chunk 1 1/2" pops out. Continue until you have reduced all your potatoes to chunky rubble. Heat the olive oil in a heay pot, at least 3 qt size. Add the almonds and garlic, and cook them over a medium heat, until they are golden-about 5 minutes, being careful not to burn them. Remove to a coffee grinder or mini processor and pulverize.

Add the potatoes to the pan, and stir them around for a minute or two. Add the broth, and all but 2 tsps of the pulverized almond mix. Bring to a boil, and turn down to a simmer. Dissolve the saffron in about 2 tbsps of the soup, and let it sit for a minute or two. Add it to the soup, with salt and pepper. Cook for about 25 minutes, at which point you should be able to crush about half of the potatoes with the back of a big spoon. Do so.

Mix the vinegar with the remaining almond mix, and stir into the soup. Garnish each bowl with the chopped parsley and bacon (ham). Consume with a coarse thick country type bread.