Ham, Broccoli and Potato Soup

Temps have been well below normal here in the Deep South. Yesterday it didn't even reach 40 degrees! Baby, that's cold for this neck of the woods! Well, on cold days like that, soup is my go-to meal to warm my family. I still had some Christmas ham leftovers in the freezer, so I threw them together with some other yummy ingredients to make this wonderful soup.

Here's what you'll need:

2 cups diced fully cooked ham
1 bag frozen broccoli florets
3 cups frozen hash browns (not shredded)
2 cartons (32 oz each) chicken broth
1 small onion, diced
1 teas garlic powder
1/4 teas sage
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Place the ham, broccoli, hash browns and onion in a slow cooker. Pour the chicken brother over all. Stir in the garlic powder and sage. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours until potatoes and broccoli are tender.

About 30 minutes before serving, whisk the milk and sour cream in a small bowl until smooth. Add to the slow cooker. Stir in the cheese until melted. Allow the soup to warm up again. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

The ham gives such a wonderful flavor to the soup! The only complaint my family had was the broth was thin....which I love because I sop up the broth with crackers or bread. But if you prefer a thicker soup, blend some flour with warm water and pour into the soup about halfway through cooking time.