Cream of Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe)

Ingredients

• 3 medium potatoes
• peeled and diced (about 2 cups)
• 1 small onion
• diced
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 (15 ounce) can vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon dried celery flakes (not seed)
• 12 teaspoon fennel seed
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 12 cup thinly sliced ham
• diced (or crisp bacon)
• 12 cup cheddar cheese
• shredded
• salt
• to taste
• black pepper
• to taste
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• disolved in water or 2 tablespoons broth
• 1 lime

Instructions

1. In large sauce pan lightly saute onions, potatoes and garlic in olive oil.
2. Add broth, celery flakes and fennel seed; bring to boil,cover and simmer until tender (about 20 minutes).
3. Mash potatoes slightly with potato masher.
4. Squeeze in juice of 1/2 of lime and stir.
5. Add cream, ham and cheese and bring to a simmer.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Add cornstarch mixture as needed for desired thickness.