This is adapted from a recipe in The 1500-Calorie-a-Day Cookbook. Most of those adaptations involved adding calories back in. Ahem. Anyway, this doesn't make much, so it's a nice lunch soup, not so much a big simmering pot of dinner with leftovers on the horizon.
2 C diced ham
1 C frozen cut green beans
½ C finely chopped onions
1 C chopped red or yellow bell pepper
1 ½ C water
1 ¾ C milk
½ C instant dry mashed potatoes
¼ tsp pepper
½ C shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Heat a large saucepan over medium heat until hot, and add a small amount of oil. Add the ham and cook 4 minutes or until beginning to brown lightly and any liquid has evaporated. Add the beans, the onion, the bell pepper, and the water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat, cover, and simmer 10 minutes or until beans are very tender.
Stir in the milk, potatoes, and pepper. Cook, uncovered, 5 minutes on medium-low heat to warm through. Serve topped with cheese.
Makes 4 C soup