Simple Clam Chowder

The name is true ~ this was super easy and yet delicious! We cut the recipe in half since there's only two of us, and we still have plenty of leftovers for lunches!

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001696572

Yield: 12 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

Ingredients:
2 bacon slices
2 cups chopped onion
1 1/4 cups chopped celery
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 (6 1/2-ounce) cans chopped clams, undrained
5 cups diced peeled baking potato (about 1 pound)
4 (8-ounce) bottles clam juice
1 bay leaf
3 cups fat-free milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 ounces)

Preparation:
1. Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings in pan. Crumble bacon; set aside. Add onion, celery, salt, thyme, and garlic to drippings in pan; cook 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
2. Drain clams, reserving liquid. Add clam liquid, potato, clam juice, and bay leaf to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until potato is tender. Discard bay leaf.
3. Combine milk and flour, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Add flour mixture to pan; bring to a boil. Cook 12 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. Add clams; cook 2 minutes. Sprinkle with bacon.

Nutritional Information:
Calories: 257 (10% from fat)
Fat: 2.9g (sat 0.6g,mono 0.6g,poly 0.7g)
Protein: 28.5g
Carbohydrate: 27.9g
Fiber: 2g
Cholesterol: 67mg
Iron: 26.6mg
Sodium: 475mg
Calcium: 242mg