The autumn chill has arrived at last and with it, thoughts of warm, comfort food. With no more worries about heating up the kitchen, cooks are eager to return to baking and fixing soups and other favorite dishes to warm up after coming indoors out of the cold. Those cooks might even get some help in the kitchen since their family members will want to gather in the warmest room of the house.
Every family has their favorite cold-weather dish. One of ours is this rich clam chowder recipe, which is what I made as soon as the fall rain began to pour and temperatures plummeted. This recipe makes a nice, chunky soup, and it’s so rich you don’t need a sandwich to go with it.
A big bowl of this chowder will not only warm you up but also will fill you up. You might add a few chips on the side and a piece of fruit for a quick and delicious autumn meal!
LOADED CLAM CHOWDER
1/4 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (optional)
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 (10.75-ounce) can cream of potato soup
1 (1-ounce) package dry ranch dressing mix
1 (10-ounce) can whole baby clams, undrained
Chopped parsley
Oyster crackers
In a 3-quart saucepan, cook onion in butter over medium heat until soft but not browned. Add mushrooms and Worcestershire sauce (if used). Cook until mushrooms are soft and pan juices have almost evaporated.
In medium bowl, whisk together half-and-half, potato soup and salad dressing mix until smooth. Drain clam liquid into dressing mixture; stir into mushrooms in pan. Cook, uncovered, until soup is heated through but not boiling. Add clams to soup; cook until heated through. Garnish each serving with parsley and oyster crackers, if desired. Makes 6 servings
Note: If you don’t have any half-and half on hand, you may use evaporated milk for the same consistency.
Brotherton offers website readers one stellar recipe a week in the “My Leader Yummy” feature.
Looking for a recipe you can’t find? Email me at kbrotherton42@gmail.com and I’ll see if I have it.
