This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Smithfield®. The opinions and text are all mine.
Oh fall, you’re so cozy! Fall is definitely my favorite time of the year… The leaves start to change, the air gets fresher and crisper and everything cools down a bit. Attitudes definitely shift for the better with these changes. And even though we don’t get the color changing leaves where I live in Arizona, I still feel the coziness of fall when I’m in the kitchen whipping up something hearty for my family.
As a child, I grew up in southeast Missouri. I remember late September, the leaves would warm up in color and the air would cool down, just in time for football season. We’d switch out our closets to bring in the cozier pieces. I remember loving the fabrics of our “winter clothes” …. Something that has stuck with me to where I am today.
Cozy is just my style. That’s the only way to describe it. My daughter, Nixon, has about 20 words she can say in her rotation at the moment, and one of them is “cozy, cozy”. Now that it’s technically fall, we’ve brought out our cozy linens and blankets, and our favorite thing to do is cuddle up on the couch and get, “cozy, cozy”.
There’s nothing like a night inside, maybe a fire burning, with something delicious cooking on the stove. Of course, with a baby and a blog, something “easy” also makes me happy. One thing my family loves is good food. I make the food and drink wine and pretend I’m a pro at wine pairing. So, tell me, what type of wine would you pair with a hearty potato and ham soup?
Hearty Potato and Ham Soup made with delicious Smithfield® Anytime Favorites® Diced Ham is an easy fall dish that I can whip up for my family quickly. The scent of this soup cooking on our stove brings smiles to everyone’s faces. We gather in the kitchen and eat our soup together as a family. Dressed in our favorite fall fabrics and feeling as “cozy cozy” as we can possibly get.
The best thing about my Hearty Potato Soup made with Smithfield Anytime Favorites Diced Ham is that we can store it in the fridge and eat it for several days. It’s definitely Nixon’s favorite meal at any time, but she especially loves when I give it to her for breakfast. Honestly, it’s the only breakfast she doesn’t toss off the table (we’re in that stage now, especially in the mornings).
I wanted to share this fall family favorite with you because it has made our lives easier and better. The addition of Smithfield Anytime Favorites Diced Ham has definitely cut the preparation time down significantly and improved the flavor as well, while also adding protein. I’m so happy I discovered this Smithfield Anytime Favorites Diced Ham in the refrigerated meats section at Albertsons because it is so versatile and flavorful. Keep reading for my quick recipe! This one doesn’t use heavy cream, because it just isn’t necessary. The diced ham gives it so much flavor! And using just milk instead of heavy cream will keep it on the lighter side and leave you feeling like a crisp fall day!
Prep 20 | Cook Time 25
You will need:
3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
3 cups chicken stock or broth
1/3 cup peeled and diced celery
3/4 cup Smithfield Anytime Favorites® Diced Ham®
1/2 cup shredded carrots
5 Tablespoons cornmeal
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups milk
1 cup water
2 Tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
Salt to taste
1) Combine potatoes, celery, carrots, ham, water, and chicken stock in a pot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender (about 15 minutes).
2) Stir in chicken bouillon, salt, and pepper.
3) Stir in milk, making sure to constantly stir to avoid lumps.
4) Whisk in cornstarch with a fork, stir constantly for a few minutes.
5) Continue to cook the mixture together for several minutes. Serve hot!
I hope you enjoy this delicious recipe as much as my family and I do. Remember to slow down a little this fall, get into your cozies, and make a special, savory meal for your family with the help of Smithfield Anytime Favorites products.
Visit the J4U Albertsons savings page for a digital coupon to save $2/2 (10/23-11/12) on select Smithfield products.
Stay cozy and visit the Smithfield website, Instagram, and Facebook pages for more recipe inspiration.
