I’m going to be real with you guys right now….this corn chowder is the bomb.
I am kiiiiiind of obsessed and in love with everything about it:
- The thick, creamy, luxurious texture that comes from the addition of roux in the last five minutes.
- The layers and layers of mouthwatering flavor coming from the bacon, onions, garlic, carrots, celery, and jalapeno.
- The tender, hearty potatoes that soak up all the delicious broth-y goodness.
- The sweet pop of corn kernels in each bite.
- The crunchy, salty bite of bacon.
- The thick, dreamy texture. Because it deserves to be on here twice. #comfort
It is THE perfect winter recipe! Love, love, love ???.
This Saturday, I am flying to spend Christmas in Alabama with some family and then heading to North Carolina to visit some friends for New Years Eve. Because I’m going to be gone and not able to cook/photograph blog recipes for a few weeks, I was planning on spending this past weekend cooking up a storm to get ahead for the rest of December/early January. This way, I would have everything cooked, photographed, and ready to go so I just have to write the posts while I’m gone.
Well that didn’t work out so well because Kansas decided to have CRAZY thunderstorms all weekend and it was very dark and dreary outside. Dark and dreary = horrible for food photography. Because of this, I was only able to cook and photograph four things…just four. And the things I did photograph turned out nooooot so well.
Like this corn chowder…the recipe was delicious, but the pictures were ehhhh. Not super happy with them.
Despite the iffy pictures, you MUST try this soup!! You will be in love ?.
Alright, so I have to tell you guys about my morning yesterday…literally the CRAZIEST morning of my life. So I wake up, just like any other normal morning, get ready, and grab the leash to take Boone out. When I open the door, he starts barking like crazy, and I look up to see that my street is covered with CID cars (Criminal Investigation Division). In the Army, there are MPs (Military Police) that deal with regular everyday stuff, just like civilian cops, and then there is the CID, which deals with felony-level crimes. Murder, sexual assault, armed robbery, war crimes – things like that. So they are LEGIT.
So I walk out and see probably ten or fifteen CID trucks, cars (all with their lights flashing), and a bunch of CID people in full out uniform. CID vests and jackets and everything. It reminded me of that scene in Monsters Inc. when all the CDA guys dressed in yellow belay down from the ceiling and are all “23-19! 23-19!” If you haven’t seen that movie, what I just said probably makes zero sense to you.
Annnyway, they are all surrounding my neighbor’s house. So I’m thinking….whaaaaaat in the world is happening. I take Boone out, he does his business, and I go back inside to grab my keys so I can turn my car on and let it start heating up for my drive to work. Well, when I am at the end of my sidewalk, I hear the screen door open and see Boone sprint outside. He chose today to learn how to open the screen door all by himself…
Since Boone’s several months of “strict-rest,” he has basically become 100% untrained in regards to him coming when you call his name if we are outside. He is obsessed with being outside now since it’s been so long, so he is just like “NOPE” any time we call him. Super fun. Awesome. So that happened this morning. I spent a solid 45 minutes to an hour chasing him around outside trying to catch him.
But the worst part?? He decided he was super interested in the criminal investigation going on next door, and kept getting ALL UP in their business. Jumping on all of them, breaking up their little interview circles, shoving his frisbee in their hands/arms/faces….everything. And it’s not like I could just pop over there in the middle of their investigation and be like “Hey! What’s up? Sorry about my dog. Just let me grab him real quick.” It was a criminal investigation! So I had to stand like 20 feet away and just keep yelling at Boone and calling him. And the icing on the cake? There was a crime scene photographer taking pictures of the outside of my neighbor’s house with this big, fancy camera, and Boone kept jumping on him while he was photographing. He even jumped on my neighbors porch and was IN the picture…so the dude had to stop and wait for him to run away.
I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO KILL THAT DOG.
And the only reason why I even caught him at all without being a million hours late to work is because a few of the CID dudes grabbed his collar as he ran by them at one point. Prooobbaly because I was screaming “Grab his collar! Grab his collar!” as he approached them.
Guys…it was the craziest morning of my life.
When I told Seth about it he just lauuuugghed and laughed and laughed ?. I guess I can’t blame him – it is a pretty funny story. It just wasn’t funny AT ALL when it was happening…UGH.
I need a small massive bowl of this Perfect Corn Chowder to de-stress…!!
- ½ lb bacon, cut up into small chunks
- ½ red pepper, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeno (if you want it spicy, leave the ribs and seeds in - if you want it mild, take them out), minced
- 2 lbs yukon gold potatoes, diced into small chunks (no need to peel them)
- 3 cups 2% milk
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 3 cups frozen corn (you can use fresh if you prefer)
- ¼ cup flour
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- In a large pot, cook your bacon pieces over medium high heat until crispy
- Remove the bacon to several sheets of paper towels, and add in the red pepper, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and jalapeno - season with salt and pepper
- Saute until the vegetables have softened
- Add the diced potatoes and stir - season again with salt and pepper
- Add the milk and chicken stock
- Bring to a boil - reduce to a simmer
- Simmer for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife (cooking times may vary depending on the size of your potatoes)
- In the last few minutes, add your corn
- Meanwhile, melt your butter in the microwave. When it is melted, whisk in the flour
- Bring your soup back to a simmer and whisk in the roux
- Simmer the soup for another 5 minutes until it has thickened
- Stir in ½ teaspoon of paprika and season to taste with salt and pepper
- Serve and top each bowl with the bacon crumbles
If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries!
In the mood for more comforting soup recipes? Check these out:
you should make a potato cheese soup.
I’ll remember that suggestion!
Corn chowder is one of my favorite things ever. I have made a million different kinds and I seriously love them all – I can’t wait to try yours! I’ve never added jalapeño in and I’m not sure why because I bet it’s amazing. I would love a bowl of this right now! So sorry about your crazy morning the other day – I would have been super stressed over that too!
I could really do with a huge bowl of this right now, as it is freezing here today in the UK, but it was warm yesteray. I have no idea what is going on with the wweather, but I can eat chowder no matter what the weather is. Yum!
This corn chowder really does look perfect! Hope you enjoy your holiday trips : )
EEEEE! I happen to freggin’ looooove corn chowder, and yours looks ahhhh-maze balls! LOVE that you added bacon and jalapeno! Yaaahhhsss. Sorry you couldn’t cook up a storm, that has happened to me so many times. Not cool weather, NOT COOL! Hope you have a wonderful trip! You will be in my neck of the woods for New Years!!!! Yay to having another kick @$$ chick in NC! Cheers, Annie! <3
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Truffle Lobster Macaroni n’ Cheese
I love corn chowder too ?????! Ugh, I know…so not cool. Yay for North Carolina!