Country Ham Chowder

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 medium potatoes, cut into 1/2 - inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons butter or 3 tablespoons margarine
• 3/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/4 cup finely chopped carrot
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2-3 cups milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper (optional)
• 2 teaspoons dijon-style mustard (i usually leave this out ) (optional)
• 1 cup finely chopped ham (i add extra ham )
• 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (you can use medium cheddar instead)

Recipe

• 1 simmer potatoes in 3/4 cup of water in a covered saucepan for about 10 minutes or until tender. teserve any liquid for soup.
• 2 melt butter in a large saucepan. sauté onion carrot and celery until golden and soft. do not brown.
• 3 stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring well.
• 4 add milk potatoes with liquid, pepper salt and mustard if used. bring to a simmer.
• 5 add ham and cheese. cook over low heat for 5 minutes.
• 6 serve hot or keep warm over very low heat with lid until ready to serve.