Oscar Night Clam Chowder

C'mon admit it - we all watched the Oscars last night.  Who wore the best dress, which actor was the most handsome, who wore the worst dress... who looked fabulous on the red carpet.... glamour, glamour and more Hollywood glamour!  My fave?  To tell you the truth, I thought Anne Hathaway was the best!  She just looks incredible in anything, has such a wide range of talent,  and had such a fun time presenting and making the whole show fun.  (picture courtesy of Yahoo)

So that we wouldn't miss a single second of the show, I whipped us up some incredible clam chowder - not your average clam chowder.  Average, New England clam chowder would have been just too blase' for Oscar night!

Inspired by Hog Island's Manilla Clam Chowder, with my own twist... No flour added,  using only fresh clams and veggies.

Serves:  6-8
Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound bacon 
• celery - 2 cups sliced.  I tried "red" celery last night - wonderful addition!
• 1 med. yellow onion, sliced
• 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
• carrots - 1-2 cups chopped
• 2 T. butter
• 6-8 medium-sized Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered into bite-sized cubes.  DO NOT peel!
• 4-6 lbs of small Manila clams in the shell 
• 1 + cup Sauvignon Blanc white wine ( be daring like Julia!)
• 1 quart heavy cream
• salt and pepper to taste

Step 1: Wash clams in colander, make sure that there are no cracked or open shells.  Discard bad clams...

Step 2: Cut up potatoes, and place in stock pot with 5-6 cups of water - no salt.   Bring to a boil, cook until al dente.  Do not discard water!

Step 3: While the potatoes are boiling, in a second heavy-bottom pot melt the butter with the thyme. Render the bacon in the butter and thyme (over low heat, careful not to burn); once bacon is rendered add onions and celery, cook until vegetables are translucent. Add carrots and cook until bendable without breaking, then add the potatoes and 4 cups of potato water.  Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

 Step 4:  Add the Sauvignon Blanc (or other good white wine) and let simmer for just a few minutes for flavors to blend

Step 5: Add the whole, fresh scrubbed clams.  Put the stock pot lid on and simmer gently until the clams open.  

Step 6: Ladle into individual bowls and pour a little cream in each bowl.  Now you are ready to serve!

Voila'!  Pour a glass of the chilled Sauvignon Blanc and serve with a rustic loaf of bread 

and you have an elegant feast.  

Have a great Monday - 

Spring is almost here on the California coast. Ice plants galore on the cliffs at Half Moon Bay just beginning to show their glorious colors!

"Just Beachy" in Snowy Gig Harbor

Judy Thorne, of Just Beachy calls herself a "shellaholic." She began collecting shells as a child in Southern California and now needs only to step outside her beachfront home in Gig Harbor, Washington to turn a beach walk into a treasure hunt.  The snow photos are all from her front yard this past week during more crazy weather that the Puget Sound is experiencing!  Formerly a travel public relations consultant, Judy's best souvenirs havealways been shells and sea glass, and she has mementoes from Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Burma, Thailand, England, Bermuda, the Mediterranean and destinations in between.    (Nude Beach - BRRRRRR!!) "Just Beachy" creations are handmade with legally collected and non-endangered shells and sea life in Judy's Shell Shack studio on the beach.   I have been to her house, it's not exactly a shack! It is definitely filled with shells, and shell creations, and a few things from our old store in Poulsbo.  Judy and Gordon's beach home sits within 10 yards from Colvos Passage, and what a treat it is to be in their house.   Big view windows to enjoy life go float by; fishing boats headed into Gig Harbor, freighters on their way into the Port of Tacoma and more than a few graceful sea lions. Oh, and lots of playful harbor seals too!  (hmmm.... must be salmon close by) Judy and her husband Gordon invited Tom and I over for holiday mimosas in December, and I was absolutely enthralled with her vast shell collection.  Check out this bowl filled with a tiny sampling of her beach walks around the world... P.S.  YUMMY Orange-Mango Mimosas. Thanks Gordon! We are very excited to be presenting Just Beachy Creations at Caron's Beach House - come see all of her creations, and look for even more in the near future. Spiral Nautilus Wreath Say it with Shells!