Soup's On!

Hi,  I am Kelsey!  Since this is my first blog post, I am going to tell you a few things about me, then get down to the good stuff.  As a small child I loved food.

This love of food had me wondering how to make it at a very early age.  My mom worked full time, so my sister and I were served a blue box from the freezer with a penguin on the outside and something that was supposed to be chicken on the inside.

One day, I decided to stop fighting my sister over the blue box with the brownie and make my own stuff.  My mom agreed, she got me a junior cookbook, some ingredients, and that was it...I was hooked.  I really had a passion for food and an eagerness for people to love eating what I was making.  I am now a culinary school grad and a working mom myself, my son is definitely not eating anything out of a blue box!
  So now for the blog...My life has revolved around food and cooking, as a result I have a lot of stories that I would love to share and they all have recipes to go along with them.  With that little tidbit about me out of the way lets get started!


Okay so my sister and I love Panera Bread.  We go there so often we signed up for those little reward swipe cards that get you free pastries.  I mean really FREE pastries...yes please!  (My rewards card is practically melted)  Anyway, Panera Bread can get a little pricey and generally at lunch time the lines are long.  20 minutes for soup?  Well I can make soup just as fast and then I have lunch all week.  My favorite soups are the thick creamy ones such as broccoli cheddar or corn chowder.  The good thing about these soups is that the base is the same.  So once you master the technique, you can make any kind you please.  Today I'm sharing the recipe for my chicken and corn chowder.  Mmmm....

Kelsey's Chicken Corn Chowder
This recipe makes approximately 3 quarts of soup, serving 8

4        Tbsp      Unsalted Butter
1/4     Cup       All Purpose Flour
1/2     Cup       White Onion, Diced
5        Cloves   Fresh Garlic Minced  (please don't use the kind from the jar, it seriously hurts my feelings)
6        Cups     Chicken Broth
2        Cups      Chicken Cooked & Diced
2        Large     Potatoes, Peeled & Diced
1        Cup       Fresh Corn (if its not in season frozen will do)
1        Cup       Heavy Whipping Cream
8        Slices     Bacon Cooked & Chopped   (I use apple wood smoked and I bake it at 350 until crisp)
1        Tbsp     Minced Fresh Parsley
1        Tbsp     Minced Fresh Chives
1        Tsp       Salt
Fresh Cracked Pepper to taste...I like a lot but it's up to you

Grab a large sauce pot and place over medium heat.  Add in butter and let melt.  Add in the onions and garlic and saute for 2 minutes.  Using a whisk add the flour and stir until incorporated.  While quickly whisking slowly pour in the broth and continue to whisk until well blended.  Add in chicken, potatoes, and corn and bring to boil.  Let boil for 2 minutes then turn to a simmer.  Simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.  Turn off heat and stir in cream, bacon, parsley, and chives.  Season to taste with the salt and pepper.  If desired garnish with extra bacon and chives.  Serve hot.
Love as Always, "Big K"

Please stay tuned for more adventures and recipes!!!!!