Ham & Corn Chowder

Cooler temperatures meant turning off the air conditioner and thinking about soups to warm up with.  I baked a loaf of honey wheat bread and made this soup since I had some corn to use.  

Ham & Corn Chowder

1 cup ham, diced
2 tbsp butter
3 cups milk
1 cup carrots, diced
3 ears of sweet corn, shucked and cut off cobs
2 large potatoes, peeled and diced
2 dashes hot sauce
1/4 tsp paprika
1 bay leaf
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Melt butter in the bottom of your soup kettle or dutch oven. Stir in the flour.  Gradually whisk milk into the flour mixture.  Bring to a simmer and add in the carrots, potatoes and bay leaf.  When slightly tender, add in corn, ham and seasonings.