Home and Health
Quick Recipes and Home Tips
By Carlene Smothers

Here is a good-easy to fix hearty soup which can also be used with a bread bowl. Buy a small loaf and hollow it out to make your bowl. The bread you remove can also be browned in the oven and used as croutons (or to feed the birds outside).

POTATO SOUP
3 medium red potatoes
2 cups water
3 tablespoons butter
3 tbs. all-purpose flour
1 small onion
3 cups milk
½ teaspoon sugar
1 cup cubed cooked ham
Crushed red pepper flakes (pinch)
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Ground black pepper

Peel potatoes and cut into cubes. Boil 2 cups water in large saucepan. Add potatoes and cook until tender. Drain, reserving liquid. Set potatoes aside. Measure 1 cup cooking liquid adding water if necessary and set aside. Chop onion and cook in saucepan with butter. Do not brown onion but cook until tender and translucent. Add flour, pepper flakes and black pepper to saucepan. Cook 3 to 4 minutes. Gradually add potatoes and reserved liquid, milk, and sugar to onion mixture – stir well. Add cheese and ham. Simmer over low heat 30 minutes stirring frequently.