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Cautiously Optomistic


Clam Chowder
Originally uploaded by Hedgetoad.
I should be outside taking a walk - it hasn't rained for at least two hours and who knows when another break like this will come again?

Seriously, what do you do when it rains for a solid month? Cook and craft. Thus, clam chowder using the clams I dug out of sand myself!

I have to say that I was a little worried. My soups usually turn out to be very watery and tasteless. And while in the middle of cooking I belatedly realized that the recipe called for canned clams, which are cooked! I used clams frozen a scant hour after being pulled from the sand. However, it came out very tasty. And I haven't experienced any gastro-intestinal discomfort or death. All in all, a positive experience.

Razor Clam Chowder

4T. real butter
1 onion, chopped
4T. of flour
1c. clam juice
2 c. water
3 medium potatoes, chopped
generous shakings of bay leaf, pepper and Mrs. Dash Garlic-n-herb
4 pinches of salt
1c. milk
1c. heavy (whipping) cream
12 Razor clams, chopped

Melt butter in large pot. Add onion and saute 'til translucent. Stir in 1T. of flour and then add clam juice. Stir. Add water and 1T. of flour. Stir until thickened. Dump in pototes and seasonings. Bring to a boil, cover, turn down heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add milk, cream, clams (and any liquid) and 2T. of flour. Simmer for another 20 minutes or until clams are cooked through.

I'm pretty sure you could cook the clams before adding to soup, but I think some flavor might be lost. The only thing that really upsets my stomach is house buying, so I just went with the "oops! they're supposed to be cooked?" You're experience may vary.

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