Ham and Potato Cheese soup
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Serves: 4

Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp butter or margarine
- 1 yellow onion (chopped very small)
- 1 cup cubed ham (cooked)
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 3 large russet potatos (cubed)
- 3 cups chicken broth/stock
- 1 cup grated Gruyere Cheese (or smoked cheddar) - 5 oz
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk
- salt + pepper (about 1/2 tsp + 1/4 tsp)
- chopped parsley for topping

Instructions:
1) Melt butter + saute onion 5 minutes on medium heat in large pot 
2) Add thyme, potato, stock, cover + simmer on Medium 20 minutes until potatos soft
3) Blend about 1/2 of the mixture and return it to pot (or use potato masher in the pot)
4) Add ham, milk + cheese. Stir until cheese melts
5) Season with salt + pepper.
6) Ladle into bowl + sprinkle with parley


Variation: To cook by crock pot: 
- Replace step #2 to cook in crock pot on high 4 hrs or low 7 hrs. You can go ahead and throw in salt and pepper early in crock pot. 
- You will likely need to double the receipe
- Continue with step 3 just before serving (and keep heat on while cheese is melting)