Killah Klam Chowdah

If you like Clam Chowder, you will love my recipe. It will make your fat cells sing! Without fail every time I make this people tell me that it is the best that they have ever eaten. It's so rich and delicious and your taste buds will do a happy dance while your fat cells are singing with delight. Enjoy!

1. 2 sticks of salted butter, 8 oz
2.  1 cup celery, diced
3.  1 cup onion, diced
4. 1 51 oz can chopped ocean clams
5. 1/3 cup clam base
6. 2 cups water, divided
7. 3 to 4 yellow meat potatoes, peeled and chopped into bite size pieces 
8. 2 qts Half &  Half or 1/2 gallon
9. 1/2 tsp white pepper
10. 1 cup corn starch

• In a large soup pot melt butter and saute celery and onion until translucent. Do not brown.
• Open the can of clams, draining only the clam juice into the soup pot, reserving the clams.
• Mix together well the clam base with 1 cup of HOT water, now add it to the soup pot. 
• Add the potatoes and bring to a boil for 30 minutes, covered.
• Add Half & Half and white pepper. Mix well.
• Stir 1 cup COLD water with corn starch, mix well with a whisk to make sure that there are not any lumps. then add it to the soup pot.
• Stir constantly over medium heat until soup has thickened. You do not want this to lump up or cook on too high of  a heat.
• Once the soup is thick, add the reserved clam from the can. This will heat through in about 5 minutes. Lower burner to lowest heat and serve immediately 

I mail order my soup base. If you can connect with a restaurant supplier you may be able to buy it from them.