Market Street Clam Chowder

 

Market Street Grill is one of my favorite places to eat.  They have the best clam chowder ever, and this recipe came from their website.  How nice of them to share!!!  I do have to say that when I made this over the weekend, it actually tasted BETTER than at the restaurant.  Seriously.  And not just because I served it in a bread bowl either.  And I loved how easy it was to make! 

Market Street Clam Chowder
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1 cup potatoes, diced ½ inch
1 cup celery, diced ½ inch
1 cup onion, diced ½ inch
1 cup green pepper, diced ½ inch
1 cup leeks, diced ½ inch
¾ cup chopped clams (canned or fresh)
¾ Tbsp. coarse ground black pepper
1 ½ tsp. salt
¾ Tbsp. whole thyme
6 bay leaves
1 tsp. Tabasco
¾ cup sherry wine (optional)
2 cups water
¾ cup clam juice (drained from canned clams or purchased separately in can)
¾ cup butter, melted
1 cup flour
2 quarts half-and-half

Combine melted butter and flour in oven-proof container and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. In large saucepan, combine remaining ingredients except half-and-half. Simmer until potatoes are thoroughly cooked. Stir butter-flour mixture into chowder and stir until thick. Mixture will be slightly less thick than cookie dough. Remove chowder from heat. Stir in half-and-half until blended. Heat to serving temperature, stirring occasionally (this will thicken it up).

(note:  since I didn't add the wine, I added 2 3/4 cups water)