Recipe: Clam chowder

Clam chowderTotal time: 1 hour, 10 minutes Servings: 6 to 8 1/2 pound fingerling or other waxy potatoesSalt2 strips bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4 -inch strips1 1/2 tablespoons butter1 small stalk celery, chopped1 small onion, chopped1 large sprig fresh thyme1 1/2 pounds small clams (such as Manila), in shells 1/3 cup dry white wine 3/4 cup half-and-half 1/4 cup heavy creamFreshly ground black pepper2 tablespoons minced parsley 1/8 teaspoon grated lemon zest1 1/2 teaspoons minced chives1. Cut the potatoes into bite-size pieces and put them in a medium soup pot. Add enough water to cover generously, season with one-half teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.2. Remove the potatoes from the cooking water with a slotted spoon and set them aside in a bowl. Don’t worry about little pieces that break off in the water; they’ll help thicken the chowder. Return the cooking water to high heat and reduce by half.3. Cook the bacon and the butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the bacon renders its fat and begins to brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Discard all but about 2 tablespoons of the fat and add the celery, onion and thyme. Cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. 4. Add the white wine and cook to burn off the alcohol, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the clams, cover tightly and increase the heat to high. Cook until the clams have opened, about 3 minutes. If there are some clams that are still closed tight, cook for 1 to 2 minutes more. After that, discard any that don’t open. 5. Add the clams, their juices and the potatoes to the soup pot with the potato cooking water. (The recipe can be made to this point up to 1 day in advance and refrigerated tightly covered.)6. Add the half-and-half and cream to the clams and potatoes and cook over medium-low heat until the mixture is warmed through, about 5 minutes. Cook just until a skin forms on the surface of the cream. Do not overcook or the cream will separate. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper, and ladle into heated soup bowls. Combine the parsley, lemon zest and chives in a small bowl and sprinkle a little of the mixture over each serving.Each of 8 servings: 133 calories; 5 grams protein; 7 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 8 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 34 mg. cholesterol; 213 mg. sodium.