Wisconsin Bacon and Potato Cheese Soup - Six Sisters' Stuff

Ingredients

• 4 Tablespoons butter
• ½ cup baby carrots (sliced)
• 2 celery stalks (sliced)
• ⅓ cup chopped onion
• ⅓ cup red bell pepper (diced)
• ½ cup fresh sliced mushrooms
• 3 potatoes (peeled and diced small)
• 4 ½ cups chicken broth (divided)
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 cups half and half cream
• 10 strips of cooked bacon (diced and divided)
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon Frank's hot sauce
• ½ teaspoon garlic salt ((could also use minced garlic))
• 1 ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 2 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese