New England Clam Chowder

Little Foodie LOVES "Clammer Shell Soup" or as it is traditionally called New England Clam Chowder. As soon as we got to Maine and went out to eat she got a big bowl of it and practically licked the bowl clean. Tonight I made my own chowder soup in celebration of Little Foodie's second day of 1st grade, she was so happy that I made it and she spent the ENTIRE dinner telling me how delicious it was! This recipe was found on about.com.

Ingredients:

• 5 cups bottled clam juice
• 1 cup of flour
• 1 cup onion, finely diced
• 10 slices of cooked bacon, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons margarine
• 8 oz. of cooked clams, chopped
• 4 medium potatoes, cooked and cut in bite sized chunks
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup light cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

Heat the clam juice in a large saucepan on medium heat. In a separate pan, melt margarine and saute the diced onions until they appear translucent. Add bacon and flour to the melted margarine and stir continuously for 5 minutes. Increase heat on clam juice to medium-high, and, with a wire whisk, add flour, margarine and onion mixture to the liquid. Stir constantly, breaking up any lumps that form. Add clams and stir. Add potato chunks, milk, cream and salt, and continue stirring. Decrease heat to medium-low, and allow chowder to simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning or sticking.

Serve clam chowder hot with oyster crackers, adding freshly ground black pepper to taste.

If fresh clams are not available, substitute six ounces of canned clams, including the juice.