Potato And Pesto Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 slices rindless smoked fatty bacon
2 tablespoons butter
1 lb mealy potato, like baking and russet
1 lb onion
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup dried shell pasta (conchigliette)
3/4 cup heavy cream
chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, and garlic bread to serve
Pesto
1 cup finely chopped parsley
2 garlic cloves
2/3 cup pine nuts
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2/3 cup parmesan cheese
white pepper (optional)
3/4 cup olive oil (use a good one!)

Preparation

To make the pesto sauce, put all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and process for 2 minutes, or blend together by hand.
Finely chop the bacon, potatoes, and onions.
Saute the bacon in a large pan over medium heat for 4 minutes.
Add the butter, potatoes, and onions and cook for 12 minutes, stirring constantly.
Add the stock and the milk to the pan and bring to a boil.
Simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the pasta and simmer for 12-14 minutes more. Blend in the cream and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the parsley and 2 tablespoons of the pesto.
Transfer to your serving bowls and top with parmesan cheese and a side of garlic bread.