Cream Cheese Potato Soup

3 cups water
1 cup ham, diced
1 bag southern style frozen hash browns
8 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

Variations:

• corn chowder - add 1 can whole corn (drained) & 1 can cream corn an hour before serving
• steak & cheese - add leftover steak or roast and a cup of shredded cheddar cheese
• clam chowder - add 1 cup whole milk and a can of clams (drained)