Seafood Chowder

It's a cold day. Not quite as cold as last week in Virginia, but still cold. Wayne wants a hot soup or chowder for dinner. Sounds like a great idea. I picked up a seafood mix at Aldi's yesterday, so this gives us a chance to try it out. Here's the inspiration recipe. If I had cream, I'd try something different, but cream is still on the shopping list. I think I'll make some Miracle Bread to serve with it.

Seafood Chowder

2 slices bacon, diced
1 cup diced onion
1 cup diced celery
3 large potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 cup flour (I used Wondra to help it blend better)
2 cups milk
1 pound seafood mix (mine was shrimp, scallops, mussels and calamari)
1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
parsley, thyme, salt and pepper to taste

Saute the bacon until crisp, then remove bacon bits and saute onion and celery. Meanwhile, in another saucepan, cook the potatoes in the chicken broth for about 10-15 minutes. Add the garlic, then flour to the onion mixture and mix well. Then stir in the potatoes (with the liquid) and the milk and heat until thickened. Add the seafood, corn and seasonings. Cook a few minutes until heated through and the seafood is cooked. Top with bacon when ready to serve.

An intriguing mix of seafood!