Recipe 2

I had about a cup and a half of scrappy ham leftover from Christmas that had been stuffed in a plastic bag and set in the freezer. I also had 8 less than stellar small potatoes so I knew I wanted to make something from them. I am trying had to spend little this January, reduce our food storage inventory and keep food waste to a minimum.
I had no idea what I would come up with and then I saw this recipe. Believe it or not I have never made chowder before. I am not a thick soup lover, preferring broth based soups and since I am the one who does the cooking my preferences tends to rule. But tonight I had all the ingredients handy, including a couple of ribs of almost wilted celery that had to be used tonight, so the die was cast and, well, chowder! What was the worst that could happen? I wouldn't like it so TheHub would have to eat it all for various meals? It was worth the gamble.

Ham and potato chowder

1 1/2 cup ham bits and pieces, chopped fine
8 smallish potatoes, peeled and diced(ish)
1/2 onion chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 quartish broth (I had simmered the ham bone so I used ham broth. Chicken  or veggie broth would work as well)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 small can drained whole kernel corn
1 teaspoon dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste (I used little salt and a lot of pepper)
chopped cooked bacon for garnish

Chop the ham, dice the potatoes and set aside. Put the onion, celery and butter in a large pan and wilt the veggies. Add the flour and stir like a crazy woman until the flour is blended with the butter and  it turns a light brown color. (Beige really) Immediately add the broth, stir well, stir well some morel and toss in the potatoes and ham. Cook until the potatoes are tender, adding a little more water or broth if necessary. Add the milk and the heavy cream along with the drained corn, parsley and salt and pepper. Cook through until everything is blended, semi thick and hot. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle crumbled bacon in the center of the soup.

Why have I never eaten this before? I don't know what I have had against chowder all my life, because this stuff was pretty darn good. I told TheHub next time I would make it without the corn because I thought it added nothing to the soup or the flavor. TheHub disagreed totally. He loved it.

Score, using leftovers and less than perfect veggies! And to think it only took me this many decades to decide chowder was pretty good after all. (In all fairness the only chowder I have ever eaten is Campbell's condensed clam chowder and it is just not good. I can't believe I based my disdain for chowder on the condensed stuff, but I did.)