Potato, Ham & Sweet Corn Chowder

Serves 6

Ingredients:

4 tbsps salted butter - divided

1 large yellow onion, finely diced

3 celery stalks, finely diced

1 large carrot, finely diced

1 red pepper, finely diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 tbsps all purpose flour

5 cups ham stock (or chicken stock)

1 lb red mini potatoes, cut into roughly 2 cm pieces

1 cup half and half cream

2 cups ham, cooked and roughly chopped

1.5 cups fresh or frozen corn nibblets, defrosted

4 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme leaves

3 bay leaves

1/2 tsp white pepper

Dash of salt

Directions:

1. Heat a Dutch oven or other large heavy bottomed pot over medium heat (6 out of 10)

2. Melt 2 tbsps butter and saute onion, celery, carrot and red pepper for 10 minutes, add garlic and continue to saute 5 minutes

3. Melt in the other 2 tbsps butter and sprinkle with flour, stir to incorporate and cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly

4. Pour in the stock, thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper, stir to combine well - increase heat to bring to a boil

5. Add potoatoes, reduce heat to low (3 out of 10) and simmer 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are just cooked

6. Add half and half  - by tempering it* with some hot soup first, then adding that back to the pot

7. Add ham and corn, heat through - avoid boiling

8. Remove bay leaves and thyme stems, if using, adjust seasoning

9. Serve with crusty bread, like baguette or our No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread

Notes:

* to temper the cream - Pour it into a 4 cup measuring cup.  Add about 1 cup of hot soup from the pot gradually, stirring constantly.  Pour the whole mixture back into the soup pot and you will avoid the risk of curdling the cream.

If using homemade ham stock, it will be quite salty on it's own, so wait until the soup is done, to taste and add more only if necessary.

If using fresh corn on the cob, invert it perpendicularily in a bunt pan hole and use a sharp knife to cut off the kernels in a downward motion - all the kernles will fall into the bunt pan and the cob stays put - works great!

For a bit of spice - add a pinch of red pepper flakes at step 4.

Nutrition Facts:

Servings: 6

Calories 399

Total Fat 16.8g 22%  Saturated Fat 9.2g 46%  Cholesterol 61mg 20%  Sodium 1052mg  46% Total Carbohydrate 46.8g 17%  Dietary Fiber 5.8g 21% 

Total Sugars 6.6g Protein 16.7g Vitamin D 5mcg 27% Calcium 110mg 8% Iron 3mg 16% Potassium 1263mg 27% 

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.