I have a recipe that I go by that has the usual potatoes, celery, carrots, onions. I add just enough water to cook the veggies in and then add either powder milk or coffee creamer to the water after the veggies are cooked. Then I add browned hamburger, 1 can of creamed corn and a handful of shredded cheese (whatever it opened in the fridge at the time). This recipe came from the Uni. of Neb. back in the 70's and its called Midwest Chowder. Don't think it included the hamburger but we've added that to our potato soup since I can remember. As I love herbs in all my soups I add parsley, basil and then salt and pepper to taste. Comes out fairly thick too if not too much water was added at the beginning. I usually just wing it and add this and add that till it tastes the way I like it.