Corn, Chicken and Potato Chowder

Creamy Chicken Potato and Corn Chowder

Cook's Notes: Bring on the soup as we have some very unlike spring weather and in need of a warm-up. I love this hearty creamy soup packed with corn, potatoes and chicken making it perfect for lunch or supper. Pair the soup with fruit or green salad. Use a rotisserie chicken as a timesaver. 

Recipe serves four. 
Ingredients: 

• 1 TB. olive oil
• 1 cup diced sweet onion
• 3/4 cup diced mini sweet red pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 TB. flour
• 5 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 2 large red potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 tsp. dried marjoram, crushed
• 1/2 tsp. thyme
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• optional 1/4 tsp. cumin (kicks up the flavor) 
• 2 cups frozen whole kernel corn ( no need to thaw) 
• 2 cups cooked chicken shredded 
• 1 cup half and half or light cream
• 1-1/2 cups shredded white cheddar or yellow cheddar cheese

Directions:

• In a soup pot heat 1 TB. olive oil. Saute onions and red peppers until soft and golden. Add in flour and garlic cook 2 minutes more. 
• Slowly add in chicken broth and whisk until well blended. Add in cubed potatoes and bring mixture to boil stirring frequently, then reduce heat to medium low and cook uncovered 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Stir occasionally.
• Whisk in marjoram, salt, ginger, thyme, cumin to broth mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15-20 minutes.
• Add in cooked chicken, corn and half and half. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes. Do not let mixture boil. Puree half of the soup mixture and return back to pot with rest of soup. 
• Add in handfuls of cheese and cook just until melted. Season with salt and pepper if necessary.
• Optional toppings:diced green onion or bacon bits 
  

Here's what spring looks like. This photo was taken two years ago to the date outside of my house. Gosh we aren't even close this year while waiting for some 19 inches to melt. 

Spring
by Mary Oliver

Faith
is the instructor,
We need no other.

Guess what I am,
He says in his
incomparably lovely

young-man voice.
because I love the world
I think of grass,

I think of leaves
and the bold sun,
I think of the rushes

in the black marshes
just coming back
from under the pure white

and now finally melting
stubs of snow.
Whatever we know or don't know

leads us to say:
Teacher, what do you mean?
But faith is still there, and silent.

Then he who owns
the incomparable voice
suddenly flows upward

and out of the room
and I follow
obedient and happy.

Of course I am thinking
the Lord was once young
and will never in fact be old.

And who else could be, who goes off
down the green path,
carrying his sandals, and singing?