Mom's Plain Potato Soup


                 2 potatoes, scrubbed, halved lengthwise
                    and thinly sliced
                 2 Tablespoons butter
                 .5 onion, sliced thinly
                 1 smalish carrot, in thin strips
                 4 cups water

                 salt, pepper

    in a soup pot, saute onion in butter until transluscent.  Add
    all other ingredients except salt and pepper. simmer gently 
    until the potatos and carrots are thoroughly cooked. season 
    with salt and pepper. serve with bread and butter sandwiches
    and a wicked sense of humor.
    (you can add all sorts of things - a bit of shredded cabbage
    or celery or minced clams. but then it's not plain potato
    soup)