Potato & Ham Chowder

I said I was going to start posting again, and looky here! That's just what I'm doing!  It's been almost a week since our Christmas Eve feast, and my fridge is still loaded with leftovers.  And like every year, there's a large Tupperware container of leftover ham.  What do YOU do with all that leftover ham?  Well I turn a large part of mine into an amazing chowder.  If you have potatoes, celery, onion, carrots, butter, and ham, you probably have everything you need stocked in your kitchen!

Potato & Ham Chowder

9-10 cups potatoes cut into 1 inch cubes (I peel half of them and leave half the peels on)
1 cup chopped celery, including leaves
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrots
2 cups cubed ham
9 cups water
8 chicken broth cubes
1/2 or 1 tsp salt, depending on taste
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 stick butter
3/4 cup flour
4 cups milk

Boil together everything EXCEPT flour and milk, then let simmer for about an hour.

Take a potato masher and mash up everything in the soup until the potatoes are in partial pieces and the liquid looks really murky. (make sure you wear an oven mit!)

In a blender, blend together the flour and milk until the lumps are gone.

While the soup is simmering and very hot, slowly pour the milk mixture into it while stirring the entire time.  Continue to simmer and let it thicken.

Serve with a little bit of grated cheese and green onion on top.  Can't beat it on a 20 degree day!