Using Ingredients You Already Have

With the current virus scare, you may be reluctant to head out to the grocery store to pick up a few things.  That’s how we came to have bowls of Boston Clam Chowder for dinner last night.

I knew I had a can of chopped clams in the cupboard as well as a few slices of bacon in the freezer and a 10-pound bag of potatoes under the sink.  Also on hand were whole milk, olive oil, an onion and black pepper.

Somehow I had forgotten how easy this chowder is to make.  The hardest part is mashing half the cooked potatoes right in the pot in order to thicken the soup. 

Boston Clam Chowder – serves 2 (adapted from “Help! My Apartment Has a Dining Room!”)  

2 slices bacon
1 small onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 medium potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 6½-ounce can chopped clams + their juice
1/2 cup water
1 cup whole milk + more if needed
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon butter 

Put the bacon in a medium frying pan and begin cooking over medium-high heat.  As the slices cook, they will begin to shrink. When the bottom of the slices turns brown, turn them over, lower the heat to medium and cook until the bacon gets crisp, about 2-3 minutes. 

Remove from the heat and transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain.  Save 1 tablespoon bacon fat and discard the rest.  Break or cut the bacon into 1-inch pieces and set aside. 

Add the bacon fat to a medium pot and begin heating over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the pieces begin to soften.  Add the potatoes, the juice only from the can of clams and the water and bring to a boil over high heat.  Turn down the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft. 

Remove from the heat.  Using the back of a tablespoon, press the spoon firmly against a potato piece until it begins to disintegrate.  Continue mashing the potato pieces until about half are left whole.  Stir the mashed pieces into the soup liquid.  If the soup seems too thick, add a few more tablespoons milk. 

Add the milk, clams, bacon pieces, black pepper and butter and continue cooking until the butter has melted.  Stir and serve.

              For easy recipes, order "Help! My Apartment Has a Kitchen!"