HAM & POTATO SOUP

Nothing can be more comforting than a warm bowl of creamy ham and potato soup on a cold winter day. Serve some garlic bread to go with it and it makes a complete meal.

Ingredients:
Potato ...... 1 medium sized ( diced) about 1/2 cup
Onion ........ 1 small ( finely chopped) about 1/4 cup
Celery ....... about 1/4 cup (finely chopped)
Ham .......... 1/4 cup ( diced)
Chicken stock .. 2-3 cups
White flour ..... 1 tbsp.
Butter ............. 1 tbsp.
Milk ................. 1/2 cup
Salt .................. to taste
Black or white pepper ....to taste.

Method:

1. Boil together diced potato, onion, celery and ham in the chicken stock adding salt to taste for 10-12 minutes.(use chicken cube+water if you don't have the stock ready.)

2. In a seperate pan heat the butter and stir in the white flour. Keep mixing for for a minute on medium flame and carefully stir in the milk whisking continuously to avoid lumps.


3. Add this to the boiling soup and let it simmer for 4-5 minutes.

4. Check the salt and thickness of the soup according to your taste.
5. Sprinkle pepper and serve hot.

(This quantity serves 2)
PS: Vegetarians can substitute the ham with diced carrot and use the vegetable stock.
( Contributed by Holli Keshwani )