A Favorite Winter Recipe

At our house winter is the time where we do the most cooking.  We have LOTS of favorite winter recipes and I do try to mix it up every once in a while with new ones.  However, one of the best we have is for Cheesy Potato Soup.  I can not remember where I got the original recipe from... and I do change it up from the original to make it our own.  I thought since this is a favoite of ours and is perfect on a cold winter day like today I would share it with you.  So, here it is... our "Cheesy Potato Soup"

Ingredients

• 3 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped celery  (optional... we don't use it)
• 1/2 cup chopped onion  (Optional... we don't use it)
• 1 cube chicken bouillon
• 1 cup water ( We use 1 and a half cups)
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley  (Optional... we don't use it)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk (We use 2 cups of milk)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded American cheese  (We use cheddar)
• 1 cup chopped ham, cooked hamburger, or cooked bacon (We use deli ham)

Directions

In a large pot add potatoes, chicken bullion and water (if you are adding the onions and celery add it now too...).  Season with salt and pepper and simmer until potatoes are tender. 

In a separate bowl mix the flour and milk and blend well.  Once potatoes are tender and the flouer is well blended with the milk, pour the milk mixture into the potatoes.  Cook until the mixture becomes thick.

Now stir in your shredded cheese and meat of your choice.  Stir until the cheese is melted.  Serve while hot! :-)

We LOVE this soup!  Usually we make garlic bread to go with it, but regular bread would go well too.  Sorry for no picture... we ate it all up before I thought to take one ;-)