Chop Chop Chowder

This was an awesome twist on the classic baked potato soup. It had several of the same ingredients, but with a spicy kick - which I love! If you can get past all the chopping required in the beginning of this recipe, it was really a snap to throw together. Fortunately, my favorite part about cooking is all of the chopping, slicing and dicing. I find it to be very therapeutic and this recipe was perfect for working any stress out on the chopping board.

Chile-Cheese Chowder
Adapted from Cooking Light January 2000

Yield

10 servings (serving size: 1 cup soup, about 1 tablespoon green onions, and about 1 teaspoon bacon)

Ingredients

• 3 bacon slices
• 1/2 cup chopped carrot
• 1 cup chopped seeded poblano chiles (about 3 large)
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons minced seeded jalapeño peppers
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 (16-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 5 cups diced peeled baking potato (1 1/2 pounds)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
• 2/3 cup sliced green onions

Preparation

Clean all vegetables and chop.

Cook the bacon in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until crisp.

Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in pan. Crumble bacon; set aside.

Add carrot and the next 4 ingredients (carrot through garlic) to the drippings in pan; sauté 10 minutes or until browned.

Stir in the broth, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add potato and salt. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes or until potato is tender.

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and milk in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk.

Add to pan.

Cook over medium heat until thick (about 12 minutes), stirring frequently.

Remove from heat. Add cheeses, stirring until cheeses melt.

Ladle into soup bowls; top with green onions and crumbled bacon.

Note: This soup will freeze well for up to two months. Pour into an airtight container, leaving enough room for expansion (usually an inch or two at the top). To reheat, thaw completely in the refrigerator; then place contents in a saucepan over low heat, adding some liquid if necessary.