by Helen Suenaga

Created on: June 02, 2010

Corn chowder has been around in today’s world for decades. The delicious taste of creamy chowder in a bread bowl or plain and a slice of bread or muffin for dipping are dreamy.  This is how my dad would make this delicious meal of “Old Fashioned Bacon Corn Chowder.

You will need the following ingredients:

1-2 lb. of lean bacon, coarsely chopped

4-6 russet or red potato’s, chopped chunky

1-2 round yellow onion, coarsely chopped

2    cans of unsalted corn, keep the juice (do not drain the can)

1    can of cream of corn

1    can unsweetened nonfat condensed milk

2 tbsp black pepper

2 tbsp garlic salt

1 tsp   paprika

2 tbsp honey

2-3 tbsp flour

In a large pot, place the coarsely chopped bacon and cook thoroughly. Cook through until your desired crisp or cooking preference.  (I prefer frying the bacon in its own excess fat until it is almost crispy.)  Do not worry about the excess oil; this will be used in the soup for thickness.

Add in chopped red or russet potatoes to the pot. (Red potato’s hold the firmness better in this type of cooking versus the russet potato.) Cook the potato’s until tender or a fork can almost pierce the potato. Then add in the coarsely chopped onions, cook through until translucent. Add in the 2-3 tbsp of flour to soak up the oil and create the thickness of the soup. Remember to stir consistently to avoid anything from sticking or burning at the bottom of the pot.

Next, add in the entire cans (including the juice from the can) of corn and cream of corn into the pot. Stir until well blended. Add in the can of unsweetened nonfat condensed milk. Again, stir until well blended. The juices from the cans add more flavor to your soup. Healthy benefit is the no salt added for the canned products.

Finally, add in your spices, the black pepper, garlic salt, paprika, and honey. The spices will provide the right amount of flavor for this delicious soup.  Feel free to add in more black pepper and garlic salt as needed for taste.

This delicious dish can be served by itself or over hot rice, a slice of French baguette, in a bread bowl, or with a slice of garlic toast.  Either way your family will fall in love with this dish and savor each flavor this dish offers.

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