St. Patrick's Day Potato Soup with Pesto - Recipe #21341 - Foodgeeks

Ingredients

• 1 lg. clove garlic
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1-1/2 tbsp. pine nuts or
• walnuts
• 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• 1 cup crème fraiche
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp. buttermilk or
• sour cream
• 1/4 cup butter
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled, crushed
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• 1 md. leek (white part only), rinsed, chopped
• 1 sm. onion, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, trimmed, chopped
• 3 lg. baking potatoes, peeled, sliced
• 1-1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1-1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3 tbsp. buttermilk