Chowder

My mom lives about an hour and a half away so I don't get to see her as much as I'd like to.  I had a long weekend off from work.  I drove down to spend the day with her.  We made Seafood Chowder together and visited while we cooked it.  

Seafood Chowder

1 onion, chopped

2 tbsp butter

5 medium to large potatoes, cubed

7- 12oz cans Evaporated Milk 

2 cans Cream Style Corn

2 cans minced clams

1 bottle clam juice

2 lbs chowder Fish or Haddock 

1/2 lb Maine Shrimp Meat

1/2 lb lobster meat

2 tbsp corn starch

Papirika, Salt and Pepper to Taste

In a medium saucepan, pour bottle of clam juice in and drain juice from minced clams into saucepan.  Add cubed potatoes and 1 cup water (just enough to cover top of potatoes).  Boil until potatoes are softened.  

In tall stockpot, melt butter over medium heat, add chopped onion and saute until softened.  Pour Evaporated Milk, cream style corn, minced clams into stockpot and stir.  Rough chop chowder fish into smaller pieces and add to stockpot.  Chop lobster meat into smaller uniform pieces and add to stockpot.  Add shrimp meat and stir.  Cook over medium heat stirring frequently to prevent milk from scorching on the bottom of the pan.

  

When potatoes are finished pour 1 cup of liquid into a measuring cup, drain remaining liquid from potatoes.  Add potatoes to stockpot and stir.  Add 2 tbsp cornstarch to reserved liquid and whisk until smooth.  Add to stock pot to thicken base.  

Cook chowder for approximately 30 minutes until heated through and fish is cooked.  

Serve with Oyster Crackers or your favorite bread.  

As delicious as this chowder was, it wasn't what made the day so special.   Spending time with my mom and cooking up a delicious meal (one of my other passions) was what made today so great.  Since my mom and I don't get to see each other that often, you have to cherish the time you have together.