Summer Corn Chowder

Ingredients

• • 5-6 medium ears of corn

  • 6 strips of bacon, cut into 1/2" pieces

  • 1 small onion

  • 1 medium poblano - finely chopped

  • 1 jalapeno pepper - seeded and finely chopped

  • 1 small celery rib - finely chopped

  • 3 medium tomatoes - remove the skin, seeded & finely chopped

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes - peeled and cubed

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • Pinch of sugar

  • 1 small bay leaf

  • 3 cups half & half

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • Parsley for garnish (optional)

  • Hot sauce to taste (optional)

Preparation

•  Working over a bowl, cut the corn kernels from the cobs at about half their depth.   Then, using the back of the knife, scrape the cobs over the bowl to release all the "milk."  Set aside

• In a large saucepan, fry the bacon over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until crips, about 10 minutes.  Transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain.  Crumble and reserve

• Discard all but 3 tablespoons of the bacon drippings from the pan.  Add the onion and cook over moderate heat until golden, 4-5 minutes.  Add the poblano pepper, jalapeno, and celery and cook until slightly softened, about 2 minutes.  Add the tomatoes, potatoes, salt, sugar, bay leaf and the reserved corn kernels and their "milk" and stir well.  Cook over moderate heat until mixture begins to sizzle.  

• Reduce heat to low.  Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender, 35-45 minutes.   Stir in the cream and milk and bring just to a boil.   Remove from heat and season with black pepper to taste.   Ladle the chowder into bowls and garnish with the crumbled bacon and parsley
  
  

Notes

• To peel a tomato -- on the bottom of the tomato, make an X with a knife.  Put in boiling water for a minute.   Remove and put into ice water to stop the cooking.  Once cool take out and the skin will peel right off

Barb Wilson