Cajun Vegetable Stew

Ingredients

• 2 tbs butter
• 2 tbs flour
• ½ lb frozen corn
• 1 lb frozen petite peas
• Finely diced:
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 shallot
  • 1 stalk celery
  • 1 small bell pepper
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled
  • 2 small Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled
  • 1 jalapeno pepper
• 4 C vegetable stock
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• ½ tsp creole seasoning
• ¼ lb ham steak, cubed

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, brown the ham in one tbsp. of butter and season with creole seasoning. Remove and set aside.
2. Melt another tbs of butter over moderately high heat and add the onion, celery, bell pepper, jalapeno and shallot and cook, stirring, until softened.
3. Stir in the flour and mix well.
4. Add the stock, carrots, potatoes and seasonings and bring to a boil.
5. Cover and reduce the heat to moderate and cook until the carrots and potatoes are just tender, about 8 minutes.
6. Add the peas and corn. Cover and simmer until the corn and peas are tender, about 5 minutes longer.
7. Serve hot.