My Boys' Favorite Dish ~ Potato, Bacon, Ham Chowder

 
I have gone back and forth with myself since the beginning of this blog about whether I would share the recipe or not. It is my most requested dinner from friends, family, and complete strangers that have "heard about it". It is the feel good, makes things all better, fill the tummies, comfort, cozy, family time, love in a bowl chowder that is great any time of the year!!  If you've been looking for that one thing that brings everyone together with smiles on their faces, no matter how bad the day has been, you have found it.

Ingredients:

One package sliced ham (the real stuff!!)
One family pack thick cut bacon
6-10 potatoes (golden yellow, diced)
1 stick of butter
minced garlic
garlic salt
creole seasoning
pepper (optional)
Family size corn (optional)
Family size can Cream of Mushroom
Family size can Cream of Chicken
Extra Large tub of Sour Cream
About 1/2 gallon milk

In a large stockpot (preferably Teflon) add the corn, cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, sour cream, and spices. Now, the spices are a little tricky, mainly because I do not have measurements that I follow for them. I will say, be careful with the creole seasoning. It can heat any dish up pretty quickly lol. For this dish, season as you like. If you like garlic, add more garlic. If you don't like as much garlic, use less garlic. It is up to you!

After mixing all of those ingredients together in the stockpot, fry up your bacon. Sssssshhhhhh....I have a little secret about this part for the nights that you aren't feeling quite as motivated. It's called pre-cooked thick cut bacon. I call it my chowder cheat and my family still loves the dish!!

While your bacon is cooking, dice up your potatoes (I leave the skins on, but it's up to you).

Now that your house smells amazing from the bacon cooking, and your dog has sat there staring at you with drool running down its face, causing a flood through your entire kitchen, empty that bacon grease for future use in cooking or dump it. Whatever it is that you do with your bacon grease, this is where you do that. I set mine aside to add to my dog's food. She might be a little bit spoiled!! But, I'll never admit it :-P

Can you guess what she's staring at?? LOL

No more bacon grease in your skillet?? Okay, throw that stick of butter in there! After it has melted down, add your diced potatoes to it. Gently season the potatoes with garlic salt and pepper (if you would like). Remember, whatever pepper you add will only help to increase the spice of the creole seasoning in the chowder. If you love spicy stuff, then season away!! Mix the potatoes until well coated with butter and seasonings; cover with lid.

While your potatoes are cooking, dice up your ham, set it aside, then crumble your bacon into the stock pot. (CHEAT MOMENT: You can get the pre-diced ham, like people get for their salads, and save yourself some dicing time if you would like.)

When your potatoes are about half way done cooking, add your diced ham and mix well. The slight touch of cooking that takes place to the ham here will increase its flavor and give it a slight seared texture. You only want it slightly seared or cooked though; just enough to bring the flavor out.

If you thought your house smelled great after the bacon, your family is for sure drooling alongside your dog at this point!! Take the potato/ham mix and dump it all into the stock pot (yes, any left over butter and all). Mix everything together!!  See how thick it all looks??

You do NOT want it to be quite that thick. Place the stock pot on your stove at about a medium heat. Slowly stir in the 1/2 gallon of milk. This takes a little bit of time to get to the right consistency, and may take more or less than the 1/2 gallon of milk. This is what you want it to look like (ish):

Let the chowder simmer, while stirring often, for about 10-15 minutes. Make sure it is heated all the way through. This is the part where a Teflon stock pot becomes most desirable. I have used aluminum pots in the past, but all that dairy likes to really stick to the bottom of the pot. Not a great smell/flavor added to the chowder, and most definitely not fun to clean out. GO TEFLON!!!

DINNER TIME!!!! If you just yelled that, like I tend to do, then get ready to be trampled LOL. I live with four guys (2 sons, 15 and 12; 2 brothers, 32 and 28), so I really have to jump out of the way at dinner time.  You can garnish however you desire. We love to sprinkle it with cheese and mix in oyster crackers.

The large bowl is how much the guys will eat per helping. The little bowl is my one time helping LOL. I live with bottomless pits!!

Voila!! You are now the most loved mom on the block! You're very welcome :-D