A cold weather soup recipe

I had a good, but exahausting holiday season. I'll journal soon, but tonight I just want to share a good cold weather food!  This cold weather is getting to me!  We are supposed to get down to 9 F tonight with a wind chill of 5 F in the morning!  The weather has put me in one of those "comfort food" moods, ya know?

I tried a new recipe on New Years  day.  I tweeked it a little, but, holy moly, it's good!  I doubled the amount of ham, and plunked in 1/4 tsp salt, 3/8 tsp black pepper, and 1/8 tsp red pepper.  Tim loved it, but he says next time I make it, to do a double batch and add 16 oz corn and or mixed veggies, drained.

the recipe is from a book: "America's Brand Name Old-Fashioned Favorites".  It's so easy and so good, I just have to share.

"Potato and Cheddar Soup

2 cups water

2 cups peeled red potato cubes (I used russet, and they we just fine!)

3 Tbsp butter or margarine

1 small onion, finely chopped

3 Tbsp all-purpose flour

     Red and black pepper to taste

3 cups milk

1/2 tsp sugar

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup cubed cooked ham (I just used a block of the pre-cooked Kentucky ham, from Walmart)

Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan.  Add potatoes and cook until tender.  Drain, reserving liquid.  Measure 1 cup of reserved liquid, adding water if necessary.  Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.  Add onion; cook and stir until tender, but not brown.  Add flour; season with red and black pepper.  Cook 3 to 4 minutes.  Gradually add potatoes, reserved liquid, milk, and sugar to onion mixture; stir well.  Add cheese and ham.  Simmer over low heat 30 minutes, stirring frequently.

Makes 12 servings "

............ unless Tim is eating with you.  Put in two cups of ham instead of one, and this soup just about makes a meal!