Smoky Seafood Chowder

SMOKY SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Mix flour and all spices together in a bowl.
• In deep pan fry bacon slices crisp remove and crumble in a bowl.
• Drain off bacon grease leaving any particles in pan.
• Add olive oil and heat on medium high scraping up any brown particles.
• Add bag of Simply Potatoes with onions and 1/4 cup chopped green onion reserving tops for garnish.
• When potatoes just start to brown add peeled deveined roughly chopped shrimp, cook for about 2 minutes.
• Add bowl of spice mixture and stir for 1 minute.
• Add back in crumbled bacon reserving some for garnish if desired.
• Add Liquid smoke and texas pete.
• Add whole baby clams with juice.
• Add bottled clam juice.
• Bring just to boil then lower heat to simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add Spinach.
• Slowly stir in half and half.
• Simmer gently for 35 minutes stirring occasionaly.
• Salt and Pepper to taste.
• Garnish with green onion tops and crumbled bacon.

SMOKY FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a heavy pot over medium-high heat, brown bacon until crisp, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.
• Spoon off all but 2 tablespoons of bacon fat from the pot. Add butter and let melt. Add leeks and a pinch of salt; cook, stirring frequently, until leeks are soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in paprika; cook 1 minute. Pour in vermouth and simmer until almost completely evaporated, about 2 minutes. Stir in stock, 1 cup water, potatoes, thyme and remaining salt. Simmer until potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes.
• Add milk and cooked bacon to pot; bring to a simmer. Add fish and cook until just opaque, 2 to 4 minutes. Use a fork to flake fish into large pieces. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Remove thyme. Serve immediately.

SMOKED FISH CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a heavy kettle (at least 5 quarts) cook bacon over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp. Add onions and cook, stirring, until softened. Peel potatoes and cut into 3/4-inch cubes. Add potatoes, celery, broth, and water and simmer, covered, 10 minutes. Add lima beans and corn and simmer, covered, 5 minutes.
• In a small bowl dissolve cornstarch in half-and-half or milk and stir into simmering soup with Worcestershire sauce. Bring soup to a boil, stirring, and add fish. (If using smoked trout, no further cooking is necessary; if using finnan haddie or fresh fish, simmer, covered, 5 minutes, or until it just flakes.) Stir in parsley or dill. Soup may be made 2 days ahead (cool uncovered before chilling covered.) Reheat gently.