Byerlys Wild Rice Soup

This is one of those fabulous memories from our time in Minnesota - over 20 years ago a very fancy supermarket chain named Byerlys opened there -- it had carpeted aisles and chandeliers and always the very best of food -since one of the things that Minnesota is known for is their wild rice and they had a pamphlet with recipes of which one of our favorites is the Wild Rice Soup --I kicked it up a notch adding shredded cooked chicken breast and served it to Katie who was coming out for lunch. I apologize in advance as some of the pictures are dark --had the camera on the wrong setting!! oops....oh well

• 6 tablespoons margarine or butter
• 1 tablespoon minced onion
• 1/2 cup flour
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups cooked wild rice (about 3/4 C uncooked) * Trader Joes sells it*
• 1/2 cup finely grated carrots
• 1/3 cup minced ham
• 3 tablespoons chopped slivered almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup half and half
• 2 tablespoons dry sherry,
• snipped fresh parsley or chives
• ****one shredded cooked chicken breast added****
• 

Directions
In large saucepan, melt margarine; saute onion until tender.

 Blend in flour and cook a minute

 gradually add broth.  Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil; boil and stir 1 minute.

 Grate in carrots

 Stir in rice, carrots, ham, almonds and salt; simmer about 5 minutes.

 Blend in half and half and sherry; heat to serving temperature.

 Garnish with snipped parsley or chives. Amount: 6 cups.

Tip:  One-half cup uncooked wild rice=1 1/2 to 2 cups, cooked.