Crock Pot Ham & Cauliflower Chowder

Crock pot E-Z; creamy, chunky fully-bodied chowder using cubed leftover ham and Half and Half(substitute, if you choose) to tempt your taste buds. Even better next day or can be frozen in muffins cups zipped tightly into large plastic bag for individual use later. Base recipe from internet with my upgrades. I'm trying it over rice as an encore; whaddya think?

• Ready In: 6 hrs 45 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  large cauliflower
• 1  cup onion, diced
• 1  cup celery, diced
• 6  medium fresh mushrooms, chopped
• 1 (10 3/4ounce) can  cream of mushroom soup
• 1 (10 3/4ounce) can  cream of celery soup
• 2  cups half-and-half
• 2  cups chicken broth or 2  cups  chicken stock
• 2 -3  cups cooked ham, cubed
• 3  tablespoons  potato flakes
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (optional)
•  Tabasco sauce (optional)

Directions

1. Steam trimmed whole head of cauliflower with stalk down for about 6 minutes.
2. Remove and cool to handle.
3. Break off florets and finely dice stalk.
4. In cast iron skillet, sauté onion and celery in butter or oil over Medium-High heat until softened.
5. Add diced ham and saute 1 minutes.
6. Place all ingredients EXCEPT Half and Half and cheddar cheese in crock pot.
7. Stir to blend.
8. Cook on LOW for 6 hours; extract 2 cups of chowder and add 3 tablespoons potato flakes and puree in blender until smooth; return to crock pot.
9. Add Half and Half; and cook 30 mins.to 1 hour.
10. Sprinkle individual servings with cheddar cheese, if desired.