Ham and potato soup
HAM AND POTATO SOUP:
3 medium to large potatoes, diced
2 cups celery ,diced
1 lg. onion, diced
3 slices bacon, diced
1-½ cups diced ham
2 cups milk
2 cans chicken broth
2 cups water
5 tablespoons margarine
5 tablespoons flour
½ tsp. thyme
3 tablespoons chives (dried)
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups grated cheddar cheese (or can use velveeta)
Place diced bacon in large soup pot and cook until crisp. Add onion, celery and diced potatoes along with chicken broth and water. Add chives, ham, thyme and salt and pepper. Bring to boil and lower to simmer, cook about 30 minutes or until potatoes are done. Mash with potato masher to break up some of the potatoes into small pieces. Meantime, put margarine in saucepan and melt, whisk in flour and milk until white sauce is thickened. Add cheese and melt, stir well and pour into soup pot with rest of mixture….bring to simmer for about 5 min. Serve with cornbread muffins with honey butter….YUM YUM