BAB'S NEW ENGLAND SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Bab's New England Seafood Chowder image

Provided by @MakeItYours

Number Of Ingredients 19

2 slices of bacon
3 tbsp butter
1 diced large Vidalia onion
4 ribs diced celery
2 minced garlic cloves
1 tbsp dried thyme
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp Old Bay
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 c white flour
2 bay leaves
2 cups diced raw new red potatos
1 32 oz box of seafood stock or broth
2 lbs cod
1 lb bay scallops
1 lb chopped chowder clams
1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp
2 cans evaporated milk
1/2 c chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

Cut the bacon into small pieces using kitchen scissors
Melt the butter in the dutch oven and add the bacon
Cook the bacon until crisp and then remove and set aside
Add the onion and celery and cook until translucent
Add the minced garlic and all the spices, stir to combine
Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable/spice mixture
Stir to combine and to "cook out" the flour for about 2 minutes
Add the diced potatos and stir
Add the seafood stock and stir to combine
Continue to cook on a simmer, the soup will thicken so be sure to stir every few minutes
When the chowder reached your desired thickness, add all of the seafood and the evaporated milk
Continue to stir occasionally until all of the seafood is cooked.
DO NOT ALLOW THIS TO BOIL
Top with fresh chopped parsley
Serve with oyster crackers or some great garic bread