$5 Friday (on Saturday)

Still celebrating our being sworn in, the bf and I went out for all you can eat sushi last night, so I did $5 Friday today.

The bf wanted clam chowder which I saw as a challenge and won (kind of). I spent $12.70 in the ingredients for clam chowder at my local supermarket. However, this could be under $10 if you've got some of the ingredients at home, since I realize that most of us have things like celery and onions on hand most of the time. Also, if you've got bacon on hand this cuts the price of the meal to $8 since the bacon was almost $4.

Anyway, here's the recipe for my $12 clam chowder (even though it was over $10, $12 for clam chowder is still pretty impressive if you ask me!)

Clam Chowder
1 onion chopped
2 stalks celery chopped
1 can chicken broth
1 can evaporated milk
2-3 potatoes chopped
4 slices of bacon chopped (optional)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cans whole baby clams drained with liquid saved roughly chopped
1 tablespoon of each: salt, pepper, Emeril's Essence, granulated garlic
3 sprigs of fresh thyme chopped (OR 1 tablespoon dried thyme)
1 bay leaf

In a large dutch oven cook the bacon over medium heat. Add the celery, onion and thyme. Stir well. Add the potatoes and the liquid from the clams as well as the chicken broth. Add the salt, pepper, essence, bay leaf and garlic. Cook the potatoes in this mixture until fork tender. When the potatoes are finished mash up a bit with a potato masher. Add the chopped clams and the evaporated milk. Reduce heat to low and bring this mixture to a simmer. Serve with saltine crackers or corn muffins.

Enjoy!