creamy ham and white bean soup

Creamy Ham and White Bean Soup (4kowboys)

3 tbls. butter, melted
3 tbls. flour
3 cans chicken broth
2 cups water
1 cup milk (or cream or half and half
)2 stalks celery, chopped3 carrots, chopped or shredded
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup white beans (I used Great Northern)
1 1/2 cups cooked cubed ham
1 can white Hominy
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. rosemarry
1/2 tsp. black pepper

In crockpot, combine melted butter and flour, whisk. Add 2 cups water and continue to whisk until no lumps are found. add remaining ingredients except milk. Cook on low 6 hours. 30 minutes before serving, add milk. Taste great served with crusty bread to soap up the juice. I would also think that you could add some frozen spinach (thawed), too.