Erin's Wild Rice Soup

This is a must have during the holidays, my mom always has it at their Christmas party and we've had it at many Christmas Eve dinners. You can't use the boxed kind of wild rice, it has to be just plain old wild rice. Minnesota wild rice if you can get it. You can also add 3 tbs of slivered almonds if you'd like. This freezes well.

• Ready In: 2 hrs
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 6  tablespoons butter
• 1  tablespoon  minced onion
• 1⁄2 cup flour
• 3  cups chicken broth
• 2  cups  cooked wild rice
• 1⁄2 cup  minced ham
• 1⁄2 cup  grated carrot
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup half-and-half

Directions

1. Melt margarine in saucepan.
2. Sauté onion in butter until tender.
3. Blend in flour.
4. Gradually add broth.
5. Stir until boiling and then boil for 1 minute.
6. Stir in rice, ham, carrots and salt.
7. Simmer about 5 minutes.
8. Add half-and-half.
9. Heat to serving temperature.
10. To cook the wild rice, I simmer it in a lot of water until they "pop" open and then I drain them until ready to add to the soup.