baking bliss: mum's chicken and corn chowder

I have been meaning for weeks now to take part in Rhi's Baking Bliss efforts over on Hummingbird's Song - well this weekend I finally got my bake on and got into some serious soup making. Chowder making actually. My mum's chicken and corn chowder recipe is just one of those all time favourite classics amongst my family. My sister was telling me last week how she made it for her family and I got all inspired. So on Saturday whilst Mr M chopped firewood I made chowder. Goodness, it must be winter!

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And no that is not my actually chicken and corn chowder efforts, but it does look strikingly similar - I pop on some crispy bacon, grate some parmesan on top and sprinkle some spring onion if I am feeling ultra fancy. My chowder was devoured within hours of it surfacing from the stove so I didn't get a chance to take a lovely photo of it in daylight on the dining room table in a cute bowl all Donna-Hay-esque for you. Sorry :(

Here's the (secret) recipe if you'd like to try - it's super easy and I often double the quantity and freeze it to have an on-hand meal when I really don't feel like cooking when I get home from work...

Ingredients

1 brown onion, finely chopped

2 stalks of celery, finely chopped

2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

4 cups of chicken stock

2 tbs margarine

2 tbs plain flour

1 cup creamed corn

2 x 375ml cans evaporated milk

1 cooked chicken from supermarket

Salt and pepper to taste (and bacon, parmesan and spring onion to garnish like me!)

Method

Place the onion, celery, potatoes and stock into a saucepan. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until vegetables are soft. Place in a blender and puree. Set aside.

In the same pan, melt the margarine, add the flour and stir until smooth. Add corn and stir through. Remove from heat and add the evaporated milk, stirring constantly. Add chicken (however much you like, I only used half and had the other half for sandwiches the next next day!) Return to the heat and stir until mixture boils and thickens. 

Add the pureed vegetable mixture. Season to taste and stir until well combined.

Bon appetit!