Photo updated September 2012
It is now less than 10 days until spring, so I might be quickly clearing my backlog of all winter meals over the next few days. I’m excited for the spring. It is my favorite season. I don’t like the cold (so I’m not sure why I live in Utah!!) But I do have to admit that I’m going to miss the comfort food and soups of the winter. As much as I love the fresh fruits and vegetables that start coming in the spring, winter food is my favorite. I love a good warm bowl of soup or chili, or a comforting serving of shepherd’s pie. The soups I have made this winter have held the starring roles in my mind. And as much as I’ve loved all of them that I’ve made, this one is my favorite – by far.
This is a Weight Watcher’s recipe, but I have taken a few liberties with the recipe, probably making it a little less healthy and adding a few extra calories. But I’ll take these extra calories, because the end result was fantastic! First of all, the recipe calls for turkey bacon. I’m not a huge fan of turkey bacon. If I’m going to eat bacon, I’m going to “go big or go home” as Brilynn would say. And the recipe said to cook the bacon in a few tablespoons of water – I had never heard of this method, but maybe it’s because turkey bacon doesn’t have enough fat. Then you are supposed to saute the veggies in some water (weird to me again), but since I had cooked pork bacon, I just sauteed the veggies in the bacon grease. I substituted a yellow bell pepper with a red one, and I really love the color that it gave to the soup. The last change I made was the salt – the original recipe didn’t call for any salt. Maybe I’m a salt junkie, but this soup definitely needed it. In fact, I tasted the soup before I served it, and didn’t care for it. I added some salt, and all of a sudden, this was one amazing soup!!
Now I know that the weather is getting warmer, but I can’t promise you that I won’t eat a bowl of this once the fresh corn starts to be harvested from my garden this summer. Winter, spring, summer, fall – I’d gladly have a bowl of this any time of year!!
A creamy corn chowder that is topped with bacon. A perfect use for fresh or frozen corn.
Ingredients
- 2 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (use turkey bacon if you want to cut back on calories)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 2 cups whole corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
- 1/4 cup light cream or half-and-half
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until crisp. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel to drain.
- Add the onion and bell pepper and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the stock and the potatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the potatoes are almost tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the corn; simmer 5 minutes longer. Season with salt. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Transfer 2 cups of the soup to a food processor or blender; puree. Pour back into the saucepan; stir in the cream and heat to serving temperature. Serve, topped with the bacon pieces.
- ---------------
- adapted from Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook
Original photo from 2008
I wish I could find where I read it, but I heard that turkey bacon isn’t any healthier than regular bacon. I can’t remember what it was about it though… sodium content maybe?
Well the soup looks delicious.
looks really delicious! can I have on too, fly a litre to us! so we can taste, guess not! lol!
Mmmm, sounds good, and easy!
I love soup, all year round.
Turkey bacon is not bacon! It’s turkey with an identity crisis. Go real or go home! (Big too…)
I’m on a chowder kick – this sounds delicious!
It sounds wonderful! I can’t stand these Utah winters either, and I can’t wait for Spring!
Now this is SOUP! Perfect for those finicky early spring days when the weather can’t decide what to do. I try with the turkey bacon, but sometimes you just gotta go pork!
Oh man, anything with bacon in it bring it on! I’m like you soup has been on the menu all winter & this one sounds like a good new one to add.
This soup sounds great! Pretty simple too. Thanks, I’ll have to try it.
http://www.katskitchen.wordpress.com
Oh yummy! I do love the looks of this soup and I wouldn’t mind eating it any time of the year either. I am enjoying the last cold and snowy days. I will miss them when we hit the high 90s here in Ohio. I will then wish for some snow. Hehehe.
This sounds so comforting and a perfect soup for winter!
there’s nothing more delicious than bacon grease…and that makes your soup look really delicious!
oh~ I’m pretty sure you can get fined for mucking with the healthy quotient of a weight watcher’s recipe!
I use turkey bacon all the time cause I don’t eat the real stuff and I have to say the water thing makes no sense to me either. Good turkey bacon will give you some grease. Not as much as pork but enough. I have noticed lately the blogoshpere has had much love for bacon.
Corn and Bacon, MMMMMM! I’m such a soup fan lately, I’ve got to make this recipe!
Not a diet food but looks really really good. Bacon makes every thing good though.
Healthy or not, sounds great to me! I don’t understand how some people don’t like soup.
oooh, that looks good, especially the bacon part!
Salty bacon with a sweet corn soup sounds really good.
I’ve been craving bacon today.
Mmm, bacon.
I don’t think I’ve ever had turkey bacon. I bet it doesn’t compare.
The soup looks lovely!
I think your version definitely sounds more delicious. Sauteing veggies in water vs. bacon fat – hmmmm, it’s a no brainer! Fat always tastes better, and a tasty dish is more satisfying.
Ari (Baking and Books)
This look so good – we are just going into autumn/winter, so it would be perfect for those cold nights.
Deb, this soup does look irresistible!
I’m gonna need recipes like this, since we’re almost in the fall here.
I love that soup! It is so satisfying!
this soup looks gorgeous and any recipe that features bacon will be a winner with the bf
I personally think turkey bacon is gross. I will also have to try this recipe too! I have that cookbook and for some reason always skipped over it. Do you know if it freezes well?
Mary,
I’m not sure if it freezes well. We ate it all up over 2 days! I have actually been pretty impressed with what I’ve made from that cookbook, though.
This is our dinner tonight and I can’t wait! It looks fantastic!
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