HEARTY HAM AND POTATO SOUP

Filed under Soups, Main Dishes

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
3 cups peeled and diced potatoes
1 cup diced cooked ham
3-4 cups chicken stock (enough to cover vegetables)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
5 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
Shredded cheese, for garnish (optional)

Directions
Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium heat.  Add the onions and celery and cook until just tender.  Add the potatoes, ham and chicken stock, using just enough stock to cover the vegetables and meat.  Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Whisk in milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot and continue cooking soup until heated through and bubbly. Ladle into bowls and top with shredded cheese, if desired.

Let's Dish
My family can never eat an entire ham, so I'm always looking for ways to use the leftovers.  I often chop up extra ham and keep it in the freezer just for this soup.  Most any kind of potatoes will work, so use whatever you have on hand.  To make this soup even more filling (and healthy) I sometimes add a can or two of white beans.  You could also use beans in place of the potatoes.  Serve with some bread and a salad for a hearty, satisfying meal.

Who Dished It Up First
Adapted from allrecipes.com