Sunday, March 9, 2014

What's for Lunch?


POTATO-CORN CHOWDER
During the chilly and damp days of late winter, we all crave a little comfort food.  This hearty soup recipe utilizes many of the things that are probably already in your cupboard.

INGREDIENTS
  • 6 slices bacon – cooked and crumbled; reserve 3 T. of bacon drippings
  • 2 stalks of celery – finely diced
  • 2 carrots – peeled and finely diced
  • 1/2 large red onion – finely chopped
  • 4 cups of peeled and diced red potatoes (you can use russets as well)
  • 1 can of whole kernel corn, drained
  • 2 cans of low sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup half-n-half
  • 2 T. butter (optional)
  • 1/4 cup white wine (I used a dry Riesling)
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. thyme (or 1 tsp. fresh thyme)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
  • In a large skillet, sauté bacon until crisp. 
  • Drain on paper towel and set aside. Crumble when cool.
  • Retain 3T. of the bacon drippings (discard the rest.)
  • Using the same skillet, heat bacon drippings over medium heat and add the celery, carrots, and onion.  Sauté until onion is translucent.
  • In soup pot or small stock pot, pour in 2 cans of chicken broth and add the sautéed vegetables and diced potatoes, along with thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
  • Cover and cook over medium heat – stirring occasionally - until potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes.
  • Remove two thirds of the mixture to a separate bowl to cool slightly (leave bay leaf in pot).
  • Using a food processor or blender, puree until slightly smooth.  Return mixture to pot. 
  • Add the crumbled bacon, corn, half-n-half, butter, white wine and red pepper flakes.
  • Simmer over low heat for half an hour – stirring occasionally - or until flavors are well blended. (Remove and discard bay leaf before serving.)
Serve with thick slices of grilled sourdough and a little grated cheddar cheese. This will definitely stick to your ribs! 

3 comments:

Stefan Jansson said...

Thanks for the recipe.

Judy said...

Oh boy! Looks delicious! There is nothing better than a nice hot bowl of soup on a cold day.

Tanya Breese said...

well that looks good!