Sunday, February 12, 2012

Seafood Chowder

Yum
The winds of winter have been howling the last few days so my soup pot made another appearance on my stove-top.  I was so warm and cozy watching cooking shows with my kids that I didn't even think about what to make for dinner. Then I saw corn chowder being made on TV and I that got me thinking of some comforting chowder for dinner. I was lucky enough to have the ingredients for a wonderful Seafood Chowder and ran into the kitchen to make it.  Since I decided at almost 4PM in the afternoon to whip this soup up and post it as a recipe for the blog I was rushing to get it done fast so I could take my pictures before the sun set. I was really lucky this soup came together in less than 30 minutes.  Then I bundled up and I headed outside with a steaming bowl of this wonderfully fragrant soup to take my photos on the deck.  There there I was freezing like a popsicle snapping pictures of this hot bowl of soup and wishing I could have jump into it to keep warm (and probably looking quite ridiculous to my neighbors).  Yes.. I agree, I'm a little crazy when it comes to getting my "glamor" shots for my recipes. I'm certainly glad I had made a steamy bowl of chowder to photograph because freezing outside was all worth it when I came back inside and got to warm up with this yummy soup.   I highly recommend the soup.. I don't highly recommend going outside on a 30 degree day with 20mph winds to snap photos of the soup. :)

 

Ingredients:
2 cans of minced clams in their juice
1lb mild white flaky fish  cut into cubes(I used cod)
1/2 lb of cleaned shrimp
6 slices of bacon (diced)
1 medium onion minced
1 green bell pepper minced
2 large carrots minced
2 stalks of minced celery
1/2 tsp of dried thyme
4 cups of chicken broth
3-4 cups of water
2 cups of diced white potatoes
chicken bullion as needed
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp red chili flakes (or to taste)
1/3 cup of all purpose flour
2 cups of half and half

Note: I recommend you take the tails off the shrimp before adding it to the soup.

Directions:
In a large soup pot, fry up your bacon until crispy.  Drain the bacon and set it aside.  Reserve the bacon drippings to fry the vegetables.






I recommend you use a food processor and "chop" your carrots, onions, bell pepper and celery to a fine dice. I wanted the vegetables to give flavor and give some "body" to the soup without actually having to be eaten in bite size pieces.

Add these vegetables to the bacon drippings in the pot and fry until softened.

Next add your dried thyme, salt, pepper, chili flakes and flour.  Cook for 2-3 minutes while stirring.






Now add your two cans of clams with their juice.  Cook for a minute.







Now add your water, chicken broth and diced potatoes.  Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are almost tender.  You will want to season the broth again because the potatoes will absorb some of the salt.  I used the chicken bullion above to season the broth.   When the potatoes are almost cooked through add your fish. 



Finally add the shrimp and  2 cups of half and half.  Allow to boil for 2-3 minutes.  Taste for seasoning one last time and your soup should be done. 
Serve hot. Enjoy.







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20 comments:

  1. This sounds delicious. I'll take a bowl please.

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  2. Yum! This looks so good, I would be happy to be your assistant to take pics just so I can have some of this soup later :) Hope you are having a wonderful weekend, Ramona! Hugs!

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  3. YUM! This would really hit the spot right now. I am bookmarking this one! Looks scrumptious!

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  4. Oh wow, this looks amazing Ramona! My husband wouldn't eat it because he hates seafood but I'd be fine with that... more for me hehe

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  5. wow....delicious n yummy.....superb

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  6. The chowder looks delicious, I have never had or made this famous American dish, time I did. Thanks for sharing the recipe :-)
    Your photography experience is very well written, had me smiling, but I am sure it was no laughing matter at that time!

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  7. I am a sucker for clam chowder but those shrimp look very mouthwatering. Great way to stay warm.

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  8. This looks so wonderful! It is cold and the wind is howling here in Alabama too. I could use some of this right now. Thanks for sharing!

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  9. You tempting me with another great recipe,is too cold today,this seafood chowder will be great,,YuM :)
    Ridwan

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  10. This looks like a perfect dish for a cold, wintery day!

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  11. making me drool......feeling so hungry looking at the pics.

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  12. What a lovely chowder for colder weather! Delicious goodness :)

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  13. Oh! Now this is totally my kind of dish! Love it.

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  14. I love chowders! It's a kind of soup I wasn't familiar with before moving here, but mmm! This looks absolutely delicious :)

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    Replies
    1. I need to try this one but i am not too good with making tasty soup;

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  15. Girl - you're crazy!!!! Going outside in that cold to get a picture! Now I call that dedication for sure. :) The pictures did turn out beautiful and I can't tell that it was shot in 30 degree COLD. It looks quite delicious and something that would definitely warm up a cold, crazy girl with a camera. :)

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  16. Made this for dinner last night. Roughly halved all the indegredients except potatoes, used red bell pepper and nonfat half and half. It was terrific.
    Even my husband who wasn't to sure about this dish had two bowls and said I must make this again. Thanks for the great recipe

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