Rainy Day Chowder

Since Christmas, I have had a ton of ham left over and it is just not moving along as quickly as I would like.  I knew I wanted to try to make some type of soup with it.  I searched the net and found the perfect recipe.  It was perfect because I had all of the ingredients for it. :)

Cheesy Ham Chowder

via Taste of Home

Ingredients
50                Ingredients

• 10 bacon strips, diced (I did not have this, so I added my Tastefully Simple's Bacon Bacon at the end)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1-1/2 cups water (I replaced the water with chicken stock)
• 2-1/2 cups cubed potatoes
• 1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
• 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules  (I nixed this since I used stock)
• Pepper to taste
• 3 cups (12 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups cubed fully cooked ham

Directions

• In a Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels to drain. In the drippings, saute onion and carrots until tender. (Note:  Since I didn't have bacon, I sauted the onions and carrots in vegetable oil.) Stir in flour until blended. Gradually add milk and water(chicken stock). Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

• Add the potatoes, corn, bouillon(didn't use this) and pepper. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

• Add cheese and ham; heat until cheese is melted. Stir in bacon(Bacon Bacon). Yield: 10 servings

 

The final product? 

A DELICIOUS ham chowder that hit the spot on this cold, rainy day.