Mmmm Monday: Corn & potato chowder

It's no secret, I love Rachael Ray.  Her magazine is my favorite monthly read.  I don't have time to watch her show every day anymore, but this recipe is an old 30 Minute Meals favorite.  We've been making it for the past couple of years and it's one of our go-to fall recipes.

Most chowders are mostly cream and super thick.  Don't get me wrong, those are amazing, but I love how this recipe has so many great veggies in it.  Veggies totally cancel out bacon, right?

In the past, I have made a few changes while making it (turkey bacon, instead of regular...etc), but in the end I always go back to the regular recipe.  You have to be able to indulge a little.

Corn & Potato Chowder 

Recipe from Rachael Ray

Ingredients

• 1 tbl EVOO
• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1.5 cups of frozen corn, or 4 cobs (fresh tastes great, but frozen is MUCH easier!)
• 1 medium or 2 small zucchini, chopped
• 1 pound red potatoes, chopped
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 5 to 6 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 tea paprika
• Salt & pepper
• 3 tbl flour
• 1 quart (4 cups) chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream 
• I use skim milk and thicken with a bit of corn starch
• 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• A few dashes hot sauce, to taste
• Oyster crackers or Goldfish

Let's make some chowda!

1. Heat a soup pot over medium-high heat with EVOO. Add bacon to hot oil and cook until crisp at edges. 
2. Add onions, corn, zucchini, potatoes and bell pepper as you get them chopped. Also add to the soup pot the bay leaf, thyme sprigs, paprika, and salt and pepper, to taste. 
3. Cook for about 7 to 8 minutes to begin to soften the vegetables. 
4. Sprinkle flour into the pot, stir and cook 1 minute. 
5. Stir in the stock and let it come up to a bubble and thicken up a bit. 
6. Then stir in cream, parsley and hot sauce, to taste, and simmer 5 minutes. 
7. Season the soup with salt and pepper
8. Serve with crackers! 

When I make this recipe, I usually serve the hot sauce on the side.  This is a great one for the whole family. Surprisingly, Gabby is the biggest fan!

Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite Rachael Ray recipe?  We have quite a few!