Neko's Packed to the Gills Seafood Chowder

[Neko-Chan]

Neko's Packed to the Gills Seafood Chowder

1/2 pound bacon, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 very large potato, peeled and cubed
3 cups water
About 2 dozen frozen clams in shell, defrosted, rinsed, steamed, shucked, etc
About 1/2 pound of any firm fleshed fish (I used blue grenadier and gummy flake), defrosted and cubed
Black pepper
Salt to taste
Two sprigs fresh thyme
3 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk

1. In skillet, fry bacon until crispy. Add onion and cook until browned.

2. Add potato and water, and cook until potato is tender. Stir in fish chunks, pepper, salt, garlic and thyme, and let simmer until fish is opaque. Stir in the clams, and heat gently.

3. In separate pan, over low heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour. Add milk a little at a time while continuing to whisk until white sauce starts to bubble around edges. Pour white sauce into clam mixture.

4. Cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes, or until heated through. Do not boil, as it will ruin the texture of the soup.

Yields 4 adult servings (eat two, freeze two)