Cheesy Potato Ham Soup

2 cups chopped carrot
2 cups chopped celery
3 cups chopped yellow onion
3 cloves chopped garlic
4 cups diced ham, lean and trimmed of fat
6 cups chicken broth
4 cups heavy cream
1 tbs kosher salt
2 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp dried thyme
.25 tsp ground nutmeg
4 cups shredded sharp cheddar
.25 cup flour
.25 cup olive oil
1 cup frozen chopped kale
1 lb diced yukon gold potatoes

Heat olive oil in dutch oven
Saute carrot, celery, onion and garlic until just tender
Sprinkle flour over veggies and stir to coat, cook 5 minutes.
Add ham, potatoes and broth, bring to simmer for 10 minutes.
Add cream, cheddar and all seasonings. Bring to low simmer, stirring occasionally until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
Stir in kale, heat 5 minutes, taste for seasoning and enjoy!

Serving Size: 16 12 oz servings

Number of Servings: 16

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user BJPLASTER.