Shrimp & Corn Chowder

It’s official, I’m back in the working world! I spent last week trying to get myself back on a schedule, waking up at a normal time instead of sleeping in and being lazy for the first few hours of the day. Cramming as much painting, projects and recipes into each day as I could.

I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m going from having all the time in the world to do whatever I please to not having enough time to think twice about what I’m going to wear today (which I usually think about 10 times over). I also have a new best friend, my daily (a.k.a. hourly) planner which now looks like Samantha’s planner on Sex and the City in the episode where Carrie gets broken up with on a post-it.

So, here goes nothing. My attempt to essentially work 2 full-time jobs…and still be successful at both.

I want to thank all of you who have faithfully followed me for the first few months of this fun little journey. I have loved sharing my posts with you and hearing your feedback and feeling the love. You have helped make this a very fun experience and I hope I have at least inspired you to try something new, in your cooking or in your home.

Ok, ok…onto the chowder. I have really come to love buying Cooking Light magazine every month. Their recipes are so tasty, easy and for the most part very quick to make (usually less than 40 minutes from prep to taking your first bite) and this chowder was no different. It took much less time than I anticipated and the flavor was delicious!

Shrimp & Corn Chowder
(makes approx. 6 cups)
4 center-cut bacon slices, chopped
4 green onions
1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 all purpose flour
2 1/2 cups 2% reduced fat milk
1 1/4 cups unsalted chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
24 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
1 (10 ounce) bag frozen corn kernels, thawed

1. Cook bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat 6 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon from pan with slotted spoon, reserve drippings.
2. Thinly slice green onions; reserve 2 Tbsp dark green parts. Add white and light green onion parts, thyme and garlic to drippings in pan; sauté 2 minutes.
3. Sprinkle flour over onion mixture, cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
4. Stir in milk, stock and bay leaf; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook 2 minutes.
5. Stir in salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, shrimp and corn; simmer 4 minutes or until shrimp are done.
6. Discard bay leaf. Divide soup evenly among 4 bowls; sprinkle with bacon and reserved 2 Tbsp green onions and serve with crusty bread.

Original recipe from Cooking Light.