Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  4             slices  bacon -- chopped
  3             medium  onions -- chopped fine
  3               cups  chicken broth
  3 1/4           cups  water
  3             pounds  boiling potatoes -- (prefer
                        -- yellow-fleshed)
     1/4           cup  all-purpose flour
     1/2         pound  gruyŠre cheese -- grated (about 2 1/2
                        -- cups)
  1         tablespoon  madeira or sherry if desired
  1           teaspoon  worcestershire sauce
  3        tablespoons  minced fresh parsley leaves

Preparation:

In a heavy kettle (at least 5 quarts) cook bacon over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp and spoon off all but 1 tablespoon fat. Add onions and saut‚ over moderately high heat, stirring, until pale golden. Add broth and 3 cups of water and bring to a boil. Peel potatoes and cut into 3/4-inch cubes. Add potatoes to soup and simmer, covered, 10 minutes. In a small bowl whisk together flour and remaining 1/4 cup water until smooth and add to simmering soup, whisking. Simmer soup, covered, 5 minutes. In a blender pur‚e GruyŠre with 3 cups hot soup broth. Stir pur‚e into soup with Madeira, Worcestershire sauce, and salt and pepper to taste and remove soup from heat. Soup may be prepared up to this point 3 days ahead (cool uncovered before chilling covered). Reheat over low heat but do not let boil. Just before serving, stir in parsley.

Nutritional Information:

198 Calories (kcal); 2g Total Fat; (10% calories from fat); 7g Protein; 38g Carbohydrate; 3mg Cholesterol; 357mg Sodium