Recipe(tried): Best Clam Chowder

I found this recipe about a year ago. It comes from a Land O Lakes cookbook. I was trying to impress my boyfriend who is now my husband. He loves clam chowder. He said this was a very good one. I chose this one because I wanted to make homemade chowder, not a chowder with a store bought soup base.

Clam Chowder

6 slices bacon, cut into 1 in pieces
2 cups cubed new red potatoes
1/2 cup each chopped onion and celery
3 tbsp butter or marg.
3 tbsp all purpose flour
3 cups milk
2 cans (6.5oz each) clams, drained and rinsed
2 tsp. basil leaves
pinch of cayenne pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

In 3 qt. saucepan cook bacon over medium heat till done*. Add potatoes, onions, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from pan.

In same pan, melt butter, stir in flour until smooth and bubbly. Add potato mixture and remaining ingredients except parsley. Cook over med heat stirring occasionally until heated through, 10-15 minutes. Stir in parsley and serve.

This is the recipe as it comes from the book.

*Before I add in the potato mixture, I usually drain off about half the bacon grease. You need some for taste. If you stir it too much, your potatoes will fall apart.

This is a very good recipe and not that hard to make. Good luck. Tanya