Ham And Wild Rice Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3/4 c. uncooked wild rice
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
4 c. water
1 medium onion, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 carrot, diced
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
3 c. chicken broth
2 c. half and half
1 c. diced ham
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. dried rosemary
parsley

Preparation

Rinse and drain wild rice.
Saute in oil until lightly browned; partially cook in water about 30 minutes.
Drain, reserving liquid. If necessary, add water to measure 1 1/2 cups.
Over medium heat, saute onion, celery and carrot in butter until onion is transparent; reduce heat.
Blend in flour; cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is bubbly.
Cook about 5 minutes but do not brown.
Using wire whisk, blend in chicken broth and reserved wild rice water.
Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
Boil and stir 1 minute.
Add wild rice, half and half and ham; blend well.
Season with salt and pepper.
Stir in rosemary and simmer about 20 minutes; do not boil.
Garnish with parsley.
Yields 10 (1-cup) servings.