#29 Is Fine Cheeseburger Chowder

In our community, there is a coffee shop/café on the downtown square that has Cheeseburger Chowder on its menu daily.   It’s a popular place – for a latte, lunch meetings and for politicians, who spend a lot of time in Iowa every 4 years.   Last year, Vice President Biden's motorcade made an unscheduled stop here just for lunch.  I suspect that is why this recipe had 3 contributors to the Treasured Recipes Cookbook.

I don’t know why it’s called "# 29 is fine", but it is.  It’s not too cheesy, it's not "gloppy", it’s quick and easy, it’s just as good at home with this recipe as it is at Smokey Row.                    

#29 Is Fine Cheeseburger Chowder

  1           pound  Ground Beef

  3           cups  Chicken Broth

  1           Bag  Hash Browns, Frozen -- O'Brian style (3 cups)

     ¾       cup  Onion -- chopped

     ¾       cup  Celery -- diced

  1           teaspoon  Basil

  1           teaspoon  Italian Seasoning

     ¼       cup  Flour

  1 ½       cups  Milk

     ¾       teaspoon  Pepper

  8           ounces  Velveeta -- Cubed

     ¾       teaspoon  Salt and Pepper

     ¼       cup  Sour Cream

Brown beef.  Season with salt, pepper and garlic salt to taste.  Add broth, hash browns, onion, celery, basil and Italian seasoning.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer 12 minutes until potatoes are tender.

Combine 1/2 cup of the milk with the flour.  Reduce heat, add remaining milk, and milk/flour mixture, cook 2-3 minutes until thickened. Add cheese, salt and pepper.  Heat until cheese melts.  Blend in sour cream and enjoy.

5-6 Servings

Contributed by my former coworker Verna Conry and 2 others

  "Treasured Recipes"