Bennigan's Restaurant Ultimate Baked Potato Soup Recipe

3 lbs all-purpose potatoes, scrubbed and pierced in several places
1 Tbsp. stick butter or margarine
1 1/2 C. finely chopped onions
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 can (14 1/2 oz) chicken broth
3 C. milk
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

TOPPINGS: shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon & chopped scallions

Preparation:
1. Heat oven to 400°F.
2. Bake potatoes 1 hour or until tender when pierced. Peel when cool enough to handle.
3. Melt Butter in a 4 to 6 qt pot over medium low heat. Stir in onions and garlic, cover and cook 10 minutes until soft, but not brown. Add 2/3 of the potatoes and mash with a potato masher. Add broth, milk, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
4. Cut remaining potatoes in small cubes. Add to soup and stir gently to reheat. Sprinkle each serving with toppings.

Olive Garden Restaurant Pasta E Fagioli Soup Recipe

3 tsp. Oil
2 lb. Ground beef
12 oz. Onion; chopped
14 oz. Carrots; slivered
14 oz. Celery; diced
48 oz. Tomatoes; canned, diced
2 C. cooked Red Kidney beans
2 C cooked White kidney beans
88 oz. Beef stock
3 tsp. Oregano
2 1/2 tsp. Pepper
5 tsp. Parsley; (fresh chopped)
1 1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce
48 oz. Spaghetti sauce
8 oz. dry pasta Shell macaroni; or other pasta

Preparation:
Sauté beef in oil in large 10-qt. pot until beef starts to brown. Add onions, carrots, celery and tomatoes and simmer for about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse beans and add to the pot. Also add beef stock, oregano, pepper, Tabasco, spaghetti sauce, and noodles. Add chopped parsley. Simmer until celery and carrots are tender, about 45 minutes