Rainy day in New Jersey calls for SOUP!! Clam Chowder that is!

This is an easy dish that tastes amazing. Go ahead and try it!

Here's all the ingredients
I try to get organic whenever I can, these carrots, potatoes, onions , parsley and thyme are from our organic CSA and my garden. You can get organic celery & tomatoes at the grocery store easy enough.

Whoops! forgot to put the clam broth & bacon with the other ingredients.

Sauté the bacon until its brown - we get our meat from a local farmer that sticks with grass fed and organic farming. Local is best when you can get it.

Once the bacon is brown, add the onion and garlic and cook until they are soft, add the tomato paste and cook for a minute or two.

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Then...add all the remaining ingredients, except the clams, to the pot.

Cook for about 15 minutes, until the veggies are tender

Add the clams and cook for 10 minutes longer (until the clams are cooked).
You can use fresh clams if you can get them but my grocery store carries frozen and they work out great!

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I made some corn bread with honey butter to go with the chowder. Honey butter is easy, mix some raw honey with some softened butter, then put it back in the fridge to firm up.

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Here's the recipe details:
Ingredients:
• Bacon – a few strips cut up
• large onion, chopped
• 7 cloves garlic, smashed or minced.
• celery (few stalks cut in 1 -2 inch pieces)
• couple of carrots (chunks)
• Pinch crushed red pepper (more if you want some heat)
• 1-tablespoon tomato paste
• fresh or dried parsley
• fresh or dried thyme (about 2 tsp)
• 1 bay leaf
• small potatoes or cut larger potatoes in quarters
• about a quart of clam juice
• fresh tomatoes rough chop (or a can of diced tomatoes)
• package frozen clam meat
• frozen (or fresh) shrimp & scallops (optional)

Directions:
• Saute bacon on the bottom of the soup pot
• Once crispy, add onions & garlic
• Sauté for a couple of minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and stir in with the onions & Garlic
• Add all remaining ingredients EXCEPT the seafood
• Simmer until potatoes tender (10-15 mins)
• Add the clams, cook on med-low for about 10 more minutes.

Great meal for a cold autumn day! If you enjoyed this post, please follow me @lrich

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All Images @lrich - Canon EOS Rebel T6i w/Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical Macro Lens