New England Clam Chowder II

== Description ==
Contributed by Healthy Recipes for Diabetic Friends Y-Group
* Source: San Antonio Express-News, web posted: on 09/11/2007, adapted from Blount Seafood Corp. 
* Makes 6 servings
== Ingredients ==
* 2 slices bacon
* 1 medium yellow onion, diced
* 1 large rib celery, peeled and diced
* ½ green bell pepper, seeded and diced (optional)
* 1 tbsp butter
* 4 tsp flour
* 1 cup clam juice
* 3 cups milk or mixture of milk and half-and-half
* 3 – 4 boiled red potatoes, cut into 1½-inch dice
* 1 cup chopped clams, with juice, either from can or foil pack
* salt, to taste
* pinch of white pepper or cayenne, or to taste
* pinch of dried thyme
== Directions ==
# Fry bacon until just crisp.
# Remove from pan.
# When bacon has cooled slightly, chop it and set aside.
# Pour off all but about 1 teaspoon bacon drippings.
# Put onion, celery and green pepper in skillet and gently sauté until vegetables are cooked.
# Set pan off the heat.
# In heavy-bottomed soup pot, melt butter.
# Add flour; stir and fry the mixture until it's cooked but not browned.
# In meantime, heat clam juice with milk or half-and-half.
# When flour mixture is cooked, slowly add hot milk mixture, whisking to incorporate it with the roux.
# Let it simmer, whisking to make it smooth as it thickens.
# When soup has thickened, add potatoes, clams, salt and pepper or cayenne, thyme and reserved bacon.
# Let simmer for a couple of more minutes until potatoes and clams are heated through.
# If it is thicker than you like, add a little more milk.
== Nutritional information ==
Per serving:
* 220 calories | 12g protein | 23g carbs | 2g dietary fiber | 10g fat | 40mg cholesterol | 260mg sodium
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Category:Healthy Recipes for Diabetic Friends
Category:New England Soups
Category:Chowder Recipes
Category:Bacon Recipes
Category:Yellow onion Recipes
Category:Celery Recipes
Category:Green bell pepper Recipes
Category:Milk and cream Recipes
Category:Red-skinned potato Recipes
Category:Clam Recipes
Category:Clam juice Recipes