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Chipotle Corn Chowder

I had this friend once, years ago, who used to live under the Franklin Bridge in Los Angeles. A bridge that is rumored to have been Anthony Kiedis muse for the Red Hot Chili Peppersย Under The Bridge. I can’t even remember how I began my friendship with a skinny, old, homeless man named Clarence. A friendship that was unlikely to say the least, but I’ll never forget the last time I saw him. He took up residence on a pile of cardboard on my route home from the gym, and I had a neatly pack care package for him. Socks, a sewing kit, two bananas, a copy of ย Sea Biscuit, and a small first aid kit, all packed into a black and white Sephora bag.

I parked at a near by gas station, and met him half way between my car and his make shift bed, his huge smile contagiously lit up my own face. We stood on the corner of Franklin and Cahuenga, talking about the days since I had seen him last.

"Jackie, I’m a blessed man." His dark unwashed skin hung from his boney frame, "I live in the best city in the world! I have friends like you! I found a church that don’t mind me, a place that I can get me some coffee every day and I’m healthy as a horse!" As the sun began to set over LA on an overcast February evening, he went on to detail for me how life had lavishly blessed him. A man who had holes in his shoes, no shower in the foreseeable future and whose worldly possessions I had just double with a small gift bag, was telling me how blessed he was.

This was a conversation that changed my life, and the way I see every situation I’m in. Could I find joy with so little? Why not? A truly happy person can find joy in very little, ย an unhappy person will always be that way.ย Since this conversation I ย take time, nearly every day, to find the lavish blessings in my own life.

Maybe you’re dealing with a lot right now, maybe the hardships are outnumber the blessings. But I’ve learned that the thing with counting blessings is that it tends to multiply them, or at the very least amplify them. The same applies to hardships, so be careful.

Taking the time to make some chowder on a lazy summer afternoon, I could not have felt more blessed. At home with my little family, we’re all healthy, I get to cook with fresh ingredients and the chowder turned out amazing. And anyone who spends time developing recipes can tell you that there are days when that feels like noting short of a huge blessing.

Serve this warm, hot or even chilled. I hope you love it as much as I did. And I hope the 30 minutes it takes to makes this will give you time to count all those blessings in your life.

Chipotle Corn Chowder

Ingredients

  • 4 cups of corn kernels cut off fresh ears of corn (about 6 ears, I used sweet white corn)
  • 1 tbs olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 cup shallots, chopped (about 1 to 2 large shallots)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups broth (chicken or vegetable, either will work. Do not use beef broth)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup 2% milk
  • 1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce
  • 1 tbs adobo sauce from chipotle chili can
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions

  1. In a large pot or dutch oven, add the oil, shallots, corn, salt and pepper. Saute over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until shallots are opaque. Add remaining ingredients and adjust heat to maintain a simmer, do not boil. Stir occasionally for about 20 minutes or until the corn kernels are soft. Remove from heat. Using a food processor or blender, puree until smooth. Taste, adding additional salt, pepper or chipotle to desired levels.

*Note: it is impossible to predict the heat level of any chili, including chipotles, since the heat level varies widely from pepper to pepper. Use the smallest chili in the can to start, add additional chilies to raise the heat level at the end.

 

 

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Comments


Baker Street August 1, 2012 um 4:44 am

those bowls are so pretty and the corn chowder looks absolutely irresistible! ๐Ÿ™‚

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Jackie August 4, 2012 um 12:48 pm

Thanks! I seriously think I got those at the 99 cent store when I was in college! Lasted me all these years, I love them ๐Ÿ™‚

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Bree August 1, 2012 um 8:28 am

Yum. I bet this would be good chunky too!

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amy @ fearless homemaker August 1, 2012 um 11:21 am

such a beautiful post, jackie + it couldn’t have come at a better time. things haven’t been going as perfectly for me lately, + i’ve allowed myself to dwell on the negative more than focus on the positive + count my blessings.

"the thing with counting blessings is that it tends to multiply them, or at the very least amplify them. The same applies to hardships, so be careful." – that is just what i needed to hear today. thank you. =)

Reply

Jackie August 1, 2012 um 11:29 am

Amy, I’m so glad! Plus you are so lovely, anything I do to brighten your day makes me so happy ๐Ÿ™‚

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amy @ fearless homemaker August 1, 2012 um 11:22 am

oh, + i got so wrapped up in my previous comment that i forgot to mention that this corn chowder looks absolutely amazing. you know that i’m a huge chipotle lover like you, so i know i’d adore this. bookmarked – thanks for sharing! xo

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Cassie August 1, 2012 um 11:29 am

Wow, how true is that, count your blessings! I usually find that, when I stop to do that, the blessings all around me well outweigh any troubles that might be going on. It helps to wash away the little things that I let get to me. This was a great reminder Jackie, thank you!! And the chowder sounds so amazing right now!

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Julie @ Table for Two August 1, 2012 um 1:02 pm

seriously obsessed with this, you have no idea how much i love corn chowder, especially when it’s got that spicy kick to it. that story – just wow, warms my heart.

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Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious August 1, 2012 um 7:49 pm

Great post, Jackie. Things have been a bit crummy for me lately but you just reminded me that I can most definitely find joy in the little things. And this chowder – YUM! Love the chipotle in this – I think I add chipotle to everything I make so this is absolutely perfect!

Reply

Jackie August 4, 2012 um 12:45 pm

I’m so glad! I love chipotle too, I have to stop myself from adding it to everything. Between that and sriracha it’s a miracle that anything gets out of my kitchen that isn’t spicy.

Reply

Carrie August 2, 2012 um 7:23 am

Sounds like a lovely soup! The chipotle sounds like a wonderful contrast to the sweet corn.

Reply

Weekly Roundup #22: Recipe Edition – Swallow Food August 2, 2012 um 8:00 am

[…] this could be really nice chilled. Chipotle corn chowder would sit really well with me right now. [Recipe: Domestic Fits] Share this:Share (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if […]

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Helen (ThursdayNightDinner.org) August 2, 2012 um 8:38 am

A great story to read this morning. Initially I wanted the recipe (it caught my eye on foodgawker!) but I really needed that bit of encouragement today, with a side of chowder of course ๐Ÿ™‚

Reply

claire @ the realistic nutritionist August 2, 2012 um 9:41 am

Oh my GAWWW those bowls are soooo cute! And i love the spicy take your recipes have this week. A woman after my own heart ๐Ÿ™‚

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Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies August 2, 2012 um 11:53 am

What a great story. I used to work as a librarian and we had lots of homeless patrons hang out there during the day and so many of the stereotypes people have about them are so, so completely off-base.

Love a nice simple corn soup. At this time of year, I just want to eat corn in every meal.

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Baking Serendipity August 2, 2012 um 6:22 pm

I needed this reminder today. Love the message and the chowder ๐Ÿ™‚

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Jackie August 4, 2012 um 12:46 pm

YAY! I’m so glad, it’s something I have to force myself to remember all the time.

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Valerie @ From Valerie’s Kitchen August 3, 2012 um 6:36 pm

Hey, I go away for a few days and you go and change up your whole blog! It looks really good ๐Ÿ™‚ Now I need to check it out and see what else is different.

What a lovely story. I feel exactly the same way about having perspective on our blessings and it is so true that unhappy people can’t see theirs. The soup looks delish and I’m going to have to Pin it for future reference!

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Jackie August 4, 2012 um 12:47 pm

Thank you Valerie ๐Ÿ™‚ I had Andrew of Eating Rules & Blog Tutor switch it for me. SO glad.

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Tammy August 12, 2012 um 1:01 am

My little blessing is lying here in my arms wide awake at 4 in the morning!

Your story is inspiring and a nice simple reminder to always look for the good in everything, even when it seems you have nothing. Thank you for your story.

Reply

Maria August 21, 2012 um 9:48 am

That looks so delicious yum!…beautiful story =)

Reply

thought for food | The Family McKee August 18, 2013 um 7:54 pm

[…] dinner was corn chowder. I didn’t have a chipotle pepper, so I doubled the amount of smoked paprika. It tasted […]

Reply

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