In celebration of the Boston Marathon...

[Cool Foot Luke]

I made Clam Chowder.

It was surprisingly easy.

Dice:
a medium onion
three stalks of celery

Saute the vegetables in 2 T butter

Meanwhile, cut two medium potatoes into 1/2" cubes

When vegetables are tender, add:
3 T flour
2 C vegetable broth
1 C heavy whipping cream
The juice of 20 oz canned clams
Cubed potatoes
3 bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Bring to a simmer, then cook until potatoes are tender.

Add the clams, then cook for another two minutes.

Eat.

[witchypoo]

hold the phone.  canned clams?

[Cool Foot Luke]

hold the phone.  canned clams?

[Ice Cream]

It sounded so good... 

[Magic Microbe]

hold the phone.  canned clams?

Isnt that what most people use for clam chowder?

[crazypants]

Isnt that what most people use for clam chowder?

Uh. Really?

[Magic Microbe]

Uh. Really?

Ummm....yes.

[crazypants]

Ummm....yes.

[Dagstag v 2.0]

I thought you were a vegetarian?

[crazypants]

That was Gordon Ramsay kicking you out of his kitchen, because- sure, most people can eat canned clams- hell most people eat Spam and Kraft Dinner and frozen peas and corn for that matter, but if you want to actually cook and dine, not just heat and eat- you really should use fresh. Not canned.

And for fuck's sake- leave the boxed croutons alone. 

[witchypoo]

Isnt that what most people use for clam chowder?

i can buy fresh-from-the-ocean clams for supah cheap at my local gas station.  so...  no.   

[Cool Foot Luke]

That was Gordon Ramsay kicking you out of his kitchen, because- sure, most people can eat canned clams- hell most people eat Spam and Kraft Dinner and frozen peas and corn for that matter, but if you want to actually cook and dine, not just heat and eat- you really should use fresh. Not canned.

And for fuck's sake- leave the boxed croutons alone. 

I'm biting my tongue, so 

[RioG]

I'm biting my tongue, so 

aww, you're just sad because you don't cook and dine.   

HP - since when did you become such a pretentious snob? 

[rocketgirl]

I don't think you can just go buy clams here. 

And frankly, if I have to shuck clams and stuff (I don't even know how), that puts things right out of my motivation and abilities.  Sure, it's probably BETTER with fresh, but it's probably still good with canned if that's what's easiest or most available to you.

Like, fresh home-made pasta is wonderful, but I'm not going to go out and buy the tools and ingredients to make it.  I'm gonna use the dry stuff in the box.

I think the chowder CFL made sounds pretty good.

[triciaflower]

The first time I made clam chowder, I used a mixture of fresh (EXPENSIVE!!!) and canned clams. The canned clams were so rubbery!

Now I use frozen shucked clams I get from our local fish place. They come in a 16oz container and are so tender. I will never go back to canned. Never.

MMM clam chowdah! So good. I may have to make some again soon.

[rocketgirl]

What is a fish place?  We have supermarkets.  I think we have one standalone butcher place, although there is one restaurant that will process meat for you.  No fish place.

I've used frozen shrimp for stuff.  That's the only seafood (outside of canned tuna) that I've ever bought.

[triciaflower]

I guess it's a shop that only sells fresh fish. Fish store? Fishery? I don't know what word I'm looking for! LOL.

[witchypoo]

fishmonger

[diablita]

yes, fishmonger.  We had one in town until recently, right next to a butcher and a baker.  All they needed was a candlestick maker.

[triciaflower]

YES!

I love our fishmonger. This shop has the freshest fish in town, best service anywhere, and they recently expanded their store and now sells lots of unique foodie-type items and gadgets. They have paella pans!