Corn Chowder

 

It looked better in the crockpot. I sprinkled some chives on it for the picture.
This was what was left. As usual we ate some before we got a picture.

 Modified this from the Brotherhood of Locomative Engineers & Trainmen Cookbook.  It called for a pound of bacon so I subbed vege-bacon and it worked fine. You could probably use TVB based Bacon-Bits (check the label).  I reduced the recipe a little but not much.  Here's how it goes. I really liked this recipe. It'll go in the family cookbook. Lovely stuff on a cold night. Sheila had me make grilled cheese sandwiches to go with it.

Ingredients:

 1. Stripples or Morningstar Farms Breakfast Strips (to taste - I used 4 crisp strips)
 2. 1/2 cup diced onion
 3. 2-4 large Russet Potatoes peeled and cubed
 4. 1 can cream of celery soup or substitute 1 can mushroom soup + TBSP celery seed
 5. 1 15 oz can whole kernel corn (I didn't drain it - figured it needed the moisture
 6. 1 can of evaporated milk
 7  1 1/2 cup water
 8. 1-2 TBSP McKay's chicken seasoning (or Wyler's)
 9. Mashed potato flakes
10. Crockpot or Stock pot depending on how much of a hurry you're in.

Directions:

1.  Crisp your vege-bacon in a skillet or in the microwave. If you like it baconish, use more. You can always add more by popping them in the microwave and piecing them up. Don't add them to the soup just yet. If you use a skillet add the onions and saute them a bit. Otherwise just dump them into the soup from the get-go.

2. Peel and dice the potatoes. add to the pot with the onions. Hold off on the bacon till the last.

3. Add soup, celery seed if needed, corn, McKay's or Wyler's Powdered Chicken seasoning. Turn on the crockpot or put the soup pot on medium heat.

4. Add evaporated milk and water

5. Bring the mixture to a boil stirring periodically. Heat until potatoes soften.

6. Add potato flakes 1/4 cup at a time until the soup reaches the desired thickness. 

Serving Suggestions:

Is great with grilled cheese sandwiches, club crackers, saltines, Ritz crackers, or cornbread. I like it in my big giant cup with the grizzly bear on it. Perfect for a cold winter's night by the fire. I keep the leftover soup in the bog bowl with the plastic lid. It's not safe for the microwave so from there on I just fill up my soup bowl and 3 minutes in the microwave gets it hot enough to suit me.  It's very filling and you'll have a nice warm tummy all evening. One of life's decadent pleasures on a peasant's budget.

Bon Appetit'
Tom