Ham & Corn Chowder!!!

We've been having family night at our house for about a year now I think. It started out on Monday nights, but then when I realized I was going to join BSF and it met on Monday nights we changed it to Wednesday nights. Then once I started volunteering at school on Thursdays and my mom would already be up here watching the grandkids we figured it made more sense to switch it to Thursday nights instead. The first time we met on a Thursday night I decided to make a new recipe. My friend Laci made it for some of us MOPS mom when we went to her house earlier in the year to watch Gone With the Wind for the first time. Yes....the first time! 

Anywho.....I made it for my parents and my brother and SIL and they loved it. So with Laci's permission I'm going to share the recipe because you seriously need to make this soup! 

Ham & Corn Chowder

In a large pot combine: 

2 1/4 cups of water 

(I was a little bit worried about the water level because the potatoes were higher than it so I added just a little more so the potatoes were just a touch under the water)

4 cups raw diced potatoes...I used russet 

2 - 3 stalks of chopped celery

Simmer the above ingredients about 20 minutes. While simmering complete the following...

In a skillet:

6 tablespoons butter....let it melt before adding the following

6 tablespoons flour

Cook butter and flour together briefly.

Add:

2 1/2 cups of milk or half & half...we used half & half....go big or go home right! 

1 1/2 teaspoons dill weed

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 cups grated cheese....I used sharp cheddar

16 ounce can corn drained

2 cups diced ham

Mix all this together in the skillet then add to the large pot with the vegetables, heat through and serve! 

Notice I didn't say drain the veggies. This part had me freaked out a bit so I took about a cup of the water out just in case. The ham & cheese mixture is really thick so it makes sense that you'd add it to the water. Mine thicken up a bit after it cooled so I'm pretty sure it would have been fine if I didn't remove any of the water at all. 

Trust me you are going to love this recipe. Now that I've made it once I know it's going to be super easy to make it again. Perfect for a cold winter night!