Creamy Ham & Potato Soup

This soup recipe may not be too quick to prepare, and it may not be the most healthy, but since it is just so damn good I have to share it with all of you.  Not to mention, I actually make a lot of soups because leftovers are quick dinner ideas.  A big pot of soup can last days, and there isn't anything much quicker than simply heating up a bowl of soup in the microwave.  Serve with salad and bread, and you are golden!

Ingredients:
- 1 onion, diced
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 6 tablespoons flour
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 4 potatoes, diced (of course, add more or less for your liking)
- 1 cup ham, diced (of course, add more or less for your liking)
- 1 cup milk
- black pepper


1. In a dutch oven, saute onion in butter until soft.  Do this on your stove top, on medium high heat.


2. Add flour to onions, and give it a bit of a stir.


3. Once the onion/butter/flour mixture starts to bubble, get ready to add your chicken broth.     Congratulations, you are making a rue!  Slowly add the broth, and keep mixing.  This may take a minute or two.  You want to keep the liquid nice and smooth, so try to avoid lumps.

** a lot of creamy soup recipes call for making a rue in a seperate pan, and then adding it to the soup.  This is a one-pot recipe, which is unique and so much easier!


4.  Bring to a boil.


5.  Add potatoes and ham.  Season with salt and pepper.


6.  Close the cover and turn down the heat.  Keep stirring every now and again.  The potatoes will get soft in about 20-30 minutes or so.


7.  Once the potatoes are soft, slowly add 1 cup milk.  This will smooth the soup out, and get it really nice and creamy.  The soup is ready to serve.


** no real need to add salt to this recipe, at least to my taste.  However, be sure to add black pepper.  The more black pepper you use, the better!  With the kids I add a little, but when I made this soup before kids I would add a LOT of pepper.  Don't be afraid to use it because it really makes this soup taste so much better.


** the base of this recipe is fantastic, and you can add any sort of combination to make the soup you want:  potato and leek, loaded baked potato with bacon and cheddar cheese, broccoli and cheese - just to name a few.

Smacznego!