~ POTATO, HAM & BEAN SOUP ~

Steps:

• 1. In a dutch oven, over medium heat - melt butter. To this add the onion, celery, carrots and garlic. Salt and pepper. Cook and stir until veggies are beginning to become tender.
• 2. Once veggies are cooked, add the broth, bullion, potatoes, thyme if using and parsley. Bring to a boil and then simmer until potatoes are tender. ( About 25 minutes.)
• 3. Smash 1 can of beans with potato masher and set aside.
• 4. Once potatoes are tender, stir in whole and smashed beans. Stir. Continue simmering, another 5 minutes. Add ham and stir.
• 5. Mix together the sour cream, cream, and flour.
• 6. Stir this mixture into the potato mixture and then add the cheese, stir until melted. I then took my potato masher and twice smashed down the soup mixture, just enough to smash some of the potatoes. You can skip this part, just makes the soup a little thicker.
• 7. Now, taste soup and adjust salt and pepper accordingly.
• 8. Serve in individual bowls and add some shredded cheese if desired.