Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Cheese Soup

Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Cheese Soup 1 32-oz. bag frozen southern style hash browns 1/2 cup diced onion 1 32-oz. box chicken broth 1 1/2 - 2 cups diced ham 1/4 tsp. pepper 1/2 tsp. dried thyme 1/2 tsp. garlic powder not in photo 1 8-oz. box cream cheese 1 8-oz. block sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (don't buy pre-shredded, it won't melt as well) Bread and butter for serving In a 6-quart slow cooker, add the frozen potatoes, onion, chicken broth, ham, pepper, thyme and garlic powder. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time. When the cooking time is up, add the cream cheese to a blender, and scoop some broth and hot potatoes into the blender with the cream cheese, just enough to get the blender moving, cover and blend until smooth. Add this mixture back to the rest of the soup in the slow cooker. Add the shredded cheese and stir. Serve with bread and butter.