Cindy's Awesome Clam Chowder

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/2 pound bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 5 unpeeled potatoes, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 (6.5 ounce) cans chopped clams with juice
• 2 (1.8 ounce) packages dry leek soup mix
• 1 quart half-and-half

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Ready Time: 55 mins


• place the bacon in a large pot and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisped and browned, about 10 minutes. remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving the drippings in the pot. set the bacon aside. stir the potatoes and carrots into the bacon fat. season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
• pour the juice from the clams into the pot, and add enough water to just cover the potatoes. bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the potatoes are just tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• gently stir the leek soup mix into the potatoes until no lumps of soup remain. stir in the clams, reserved bacon, and half-and-half cream. cook and stir until the chowder returns to a simmer and thickens, about 10 minutes more.