It seems that this recipe used to require many more steps, but now I've got it fine tuned and pretty easy to make. It's not just for Christmas Eve, so it would make a great New Year's Eve meal also. The Christmas dishes had belonged to my mom.
Don't blame me for the knife and spoon placement.
Judy's Clam Chowder:
10 slices of hickory-smoked bacon, fried crisp, broken into tiny pieces
4 small potatoes, skin on, diced
3 small carrots, diced
4 ribs of celery, minced
1 med. onion, minced
1 Carmen red pepper or red bell pepper (sweet), diced
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
3-4 cans of clams. Do not drain. If minced, use as is. If chopt, run through food processor first. This is simply a preference. I don't like big, rubbery hunks of clam. Also, I prefer Gorton's brand.
2 quarts of whole milk
3/4 c. flour
1 bay leaf, broken in pieces
1-2 t. thyme (I used 2 t.)
black pepper
sea salt to taste
Open 3-4 cans of clams, pour all (incl. juice) into saucepan. Add potatoes and carrots and cook til they are just tender, not mushy.
In a skillet, saute celery, onion, peppers in a couple T. butter until tender.
In a separate bowl, whisk flour into a couple cups of the milk. Add remaining milk little by little, whisking as you add so there are no lumps.
Pour all (including the liquid from the potato/carrots/clams) into my large Martha Stewart stainless steel pot which doesn't let anything stick on the bottom. Heat on Low, stirring. Add seasonings.
Bring to near boil, but DON'T BOIL. At this point, you can then cool the chowder and keep refrigerated overnight OR (if you're going to eat in a couple hours,) let sit covered, then bring back to temperature and serve.
A great accompaniment to my clam chowder: popovers
Chowder recipe serves 8.
This post is linked to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
and Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods
and Tuesdays at the Table
and Home and Family Friday
That sounds delicious. And yes, I think it's very good to have traditions and rituals that help us through difficult and disruptive times. Mind you, Christmas itself feels a bit disruptive to me - in the end, however pleasant it's been, I'm glad to go back to a normal routine!
ReplyDeleteOooh yummm! My husband and I love clam chowder, but I haven't tried making it myself. This has to change, especially now that I have this great recipe. I would never have thought to add jalapeno peppers!
ReplyDeleteOnce we went on a road trip thru the Eastern US states and had clam chowder every day for lunch at Howard Johnson's (in our pre-children days!). We still laugh about that.
Photos are beautiful, by the way.
Actually, I have been crying in my beer (which I don't drink) all morning, but I guess you're forgiven since you aren't so Yankee after all! I love a good jib now and then, so I can take it, and I have a feeling you can, too!
ReplyDeleteWe are having dinner guests next Monday night, and I was thinking of making seafood gumbo, but maybe I'll try your clam chowder. I haven't had good chowder in a long time. Thanks for the recipe.
By the way, I have those Christmas dishes!
ReplyDeleteYou are going to be my husband's hero for giving me the recipe to a good clam chowdah! I need to surprise him with this soon. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Candace
This looks delicious! I hope that your holiday is going great! This recipe is good for these cold snowy days! Have a good day my friend!
ReplyDeleteMama Hen
Oh my how I love Clam Chowder and this one looks and sounds so delicious. BUT, I refuse to fry bacon in my house. Blech, what a mess. Maybe some leftover Christmas ham could be substituted?
ReplyDeleteOkay, it's possible to use the ham, I suppose, but I wouldn't recommend it. Save the ham for scalloped potatoes with ham. BUT, you can cook the bacon between some paper towels in the microwave if you don't want the mess of a frypan. Then again, if you don't fry the bacon, how can you face those cute little downy woodpeckers and flickers who are waiting for the bacon grease? :-)
ReplyDeleteClam Chowder is my favorite! This looks wonderful Judy! I'd love a bowl right now.. it's too cold in Nebraska!! Can't wait to get back to the warmth of the desert!!
ReplyDeleteChristmas Clam Chowder??? LOVE IT! Any clam chowder is a favorite of mine!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Love!
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
www.mawhats4dinner.com
Thank you for asking about my husband. He went through a lot and was in Intensive Care for days. He is doing much better and will be able to leave the hospital soon. Thank God. Thank you so much for your concern and friendship. I really appreciate it. It has been difficult and it is always nice to know that people care so much out there in blogland! I hope you have a great New Year's Eve! May the new year be filled with great health, plenty of laughter and abundant happiness!
ReplyDeleteMama Hen
That is a GORGEOUS table setting! And how perfect was the timing that this consummate comfort food was served the day after the funeral, offering solace and warmth and tradition and continuity??? God was watching over you, Judy ... :)
ReplyDeleteYum! Do you think it would work with lactose free milk?
ReplyDeleteooooooooo that looks delish! :) Must try. I have a beautiful Potato and bacon soup that i love that kinda reminds of this. ;0) Thanks for popping by. It is too bad i dont live closer!!!!! I would have fun straightening things, and being OCD once its all done! :) LOL :) *Smiles*
ReplyDeletePerfect timing! I was just getting ready to make some Clam Chowder for New Years Eve. I will have to give this recipe a try. Thanks for linking it up to Thrilling Thursday @ Paisley Passions :)
ReplyDeleteNo thank you...but very nice photos of the pretty table it sits on.
ReplyDeleteyour friend :)
Hi! Just wanted to let you know that I featured this today on FTF! Stop by and grab a featured button for your blog if you would like! Thanks for participating in FTF and have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love clam chowder. It really is one of those feel good soups. Thanks for sharing with Fat Camp Friday, see you next week!
ReplyDelete