A New Gadget and Some Ham Soup

I love kitchen gadgets as much as the Little Mermaid loves thingamabobs.  And I have happily added another one to my collection.  In all its chrome beauty, the Instant Pot (https://instantpot.com) now has a permanent home on my kitchen counter.

I have made a number of really good dinners in it and have only had one fail. I'll be posting more recipes in the future but this the one I am making tonight.  It complicated but it was actually very easy.  I sure hope it works. 

Instant Pot Potato Ham Soup

• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 Tbsp Butter
• 1 small Sweet Onion
• 2/3 cup Celery, diced (about 2 stalks)
• 1 cup Carrots, diced (about 2-3 medium)
• 3 Cloves of Garlic, pressed or minced
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 1/4 tsp Coriander Powder
• 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp Thyme Leaves, dried
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup Flour
• 3 cups Chicken Broth
• 1 1/2 lbs Potatoes, diced
• 2 cups Ham, diced (great way to use leftover)
• 1 1/2 cups Half and Half (or heavy cream, or whole milk)

Optional

1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated

1/2 cup Sour Cream

Instructions

• Turn on the Instant Pot Sauté function (Normal/Med heat). When the display reads "Hot" add the olive oil and butter.
• Add the onion, celery, and carrots. Cook until the vegetables start to soften, and the onions are starting to turn translucent.
• Add the garlic. Sauté for a minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
• Add the bay leaf, Coriander powder, nutmeg, thyme, and salt. Stir.
• Sprinkle in the flour and stir, mixing well.
• Pour in half of the broth while stirring, making sure there are no lumps, then continue stirring in the rest of the broth. 
• Let the contents of the pot come to a simmer, then add the potatoes and the ham. Stir.
• Place the lid on the pot and lock it in place. Turn the Steam Release Knob to the Sealing position 
• Cancel the Sauté function.
• Select Manual (or Pressure Cook), and use the + or - buttons (or dial) to choose 5 minutes.
• When the cooking cycle has finished, let the pot go into the Natural Release (Warm) mode. You don't have to do anything, it will do this automatically.
• After 20 minutes of Natural Pressure Release, you can manually release the remaining pressure by turning the Steam Release Knob to the Venting position (or pushing the button on the Ultra).
• When the pressure is all out of the pot, and the pin in the lid has dropped, you can open the lid.
• Stir in the cheese, if using.
• Add the half and half (and sour cream, if using), and stir.
• Taste and adjust salt if necessary.