Comfort Food for Cold, Rainy Days

Don't you love cold, rainy weather? I love to make some delicious soup or stew, then sit by the fire and read or watch a good movie. On Sunday I wanted to make some potato soup but no one else in the family wanted that. Of course, Tommy wanted some meat in it if I made soup. He doesn't believe in having a meal with no meat. It's a shame really because there are some fabulous meatless meals. So we compromised and I made a Potato and Corn Chowder with Ham. We had a green salad and some cheese toast with it. It was creamy and yummy and it really hit the spot.

Potato and Corn Chowder with Ham
3 large baking potatos, peeled, cut in small chunks & rinsed
5 carrots, peeled and sliced large
1 bunch celery, cleaned and sliced thinly
1 large onion, diced
1 stick butter
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup flour
2 packages frozen corn
2-3 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 pounds ham, cut in cubes
2 cups half and half
2 teaspoons thyme
salt/pepper to taste

Place the potatos and carrots in a large stockpot, add enough water to be about 2-3 inches over the potatoes and carrots. Add salt and pepper and boil until just tender. DO NOT DRAIN! Mash the potatoes and carrots up in the water and then set aside. In a skillet heat olive oil and butter, add the onion and celery and saute until translucent and tender. Add the flour and keep stirring until the flour soaks up all the liquid. Keep stirring until it begins to brown on medium-low heat, just a few more minutes. Then add the chicken stock and stir until combined, it will be very thick. Add the celery and onion to the potato mixture, along with the chicken stock. You may wish to add a little more than two-three cups of chicken stock. Add the thyme and salt/pepper to taste. Stir until it's all combined. Heat and bring to a simmer. Then add the frozen corn and the ham. This will be a pretty thick soup. After it begins to simmer again on low heat, add the half and half. Just cook until warm and be careful because it can stick and burn pretty easy.

Let me know what you think when you try this recipe. Hope you like it!