I know, I know, am I really posting a soup in the heat of the summer? I am, but don’t cut out now. This dish is extremely easy to make and eat I promise. Even when it is quite sticky outside. Before we get to this summery chowder lets talk about the weekend shall we? Saturday was a work day. Have you every felt like you are drowning in your own house? Um, yes that is me, right now. I actually just messaged my husband and said I just can’t take it anymore, I’m doing a blog. Procrastination is the name of the game when you can’t quite catch your breath right? I’m drowning you guys, like seriously drowning in girl clothes. It is C-R-A-Z-Y the amount of clothing that accumulates after three girls. They are still young, so what happens when we have three teenagers (okay don’t answer that, let me be naive about that issue for a while longer). Like how does this happen, how am I suppose to get all of this organized and please someone tell me how to keep up on the laundry?
Oh the laundry alone. Maybe the question should be, how many times can you let your children wear something without washing it? My washing machine may have more miles than anything else in the house. We’re both spent. I would take a laundry fairy any day now…mom are you reading this?
Sunday started off great! We actually all left the house and went to church as a family. Remarkable it was. Dressed, breakfast fed and to church on time. Did you hear that? On time!! My husband thought the days of being on time were long gone, we proved him wrong on this one. It was close, but we were there and smiling. Leaving church was a different story. Three crying girls, a lot of things – because you have to pack your life anytime you take three little girls out, especially the baby – and a couple block walk to the car was painful. My husband loses more hair daily and its because of things like this.
Luckily we managed to get everything in the car and off we went to the restaurant. –>INSERT CRAZY PARENTS JOKE HERE<– We should have known that if the walk to the car was that painful, the restaurant experience was not going to be any better, but these kids had to eat so they could nap on the way home. Maybe it was because, selfishly I didn’t want to cook and so off we went. It started off bad and ended bad. In fact, our oldest daughter had an epic meltdown which required removing her from the restaurant and sitting in the car while the rest of the family and some friends enjoyed their meal inside. A tired, hungry, hormonal momma and a tired hungry three-year old probably aren’t the best mix but we managed, without food of course.
Luckily Sunday night ended as the day started, peaceful. Now granted our house doesn’t look any better. Seriously, I sit in piles of clothes as I try and sort out sizes and how I am going to organize them all into one closet. The problem is that organizing isn’t my best attribute. In fact, I’m just about ready to go buy a couple more clothes baskets and designate one to each girl and just throw all the clothes in there and call it good. Although I’m sure that statement made many of you cringe. I can image you organized ones are probably shaking your head that I am even thinking such things. I really need to take a few lessons from you all, so I will be accepting advice in the comments below on how to manage three girls’ clothing and all of the laundry. My husband would appreciate it if someone would help his crazy wife out!
All things aside, here is some encouragement. It doesn’t take mad organizational skills to eat healthy. Can all you free spirits give me a whoop whoop! A little planning, some creativity and real food is all you need. That’s the beauty of cooking, you secretly don’t need a recipe, especially when it comes to soups. Throw some ingredients in, liquid and some spices, wave your magic spoon and viola you have yourself one delicious pot of goodness. That is how to make soup in a nutshell… did it help?
Take it or leave it, eating a warm soup on a hot day isn’t so bad. In fact, with the right ingredients and sides it can actually taste quite summery. Plus, warmth is satisfying to our bodies. It’s true, warming your belly will actually help you to feel full faster. EAT YOUR SOUP PEOPLE! Okay I didn’t mean to yell but really soup isn’t a horrible sin in the summer, is it?
This creamy corn chowder will be a welcome guest anytime of the year, warm of hot. But with fresh sweet corn, bacon (mmmm Bacon), garden potatoes, fresh onions and garden herbs, doesn’t it just scream summer? Plus it is dairy free (more on this later) and you wouldn’t even know it. Pureeing some corn with a little broth creates corn milk. And that sounds appetizing, not! But seriously, don’t think about it as corn milk, think about it as the dairy-free cream this soup needs to stand its own ground. Now get to cookin’ ya’ll!
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 potatoes, cubed
- 6 ears corn, about 4-5 cups (divided) cut from the cob
- 2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup coconut milk (Could use cream)
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Toppings:
- Bacon
- Parmesan
- Thyme
- Heat a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat.
- Cut bacon into small pieces and place in hot pan.
- Add chopped onion and continue to cook until bacon is crisp and onion is tender.
- Add garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
- Add carrots, potatoes and 1 cup chicken broth and continue cooking.
- Meanwhile, add 3 cups (about 4 ears cut from the cob) to a blender with 1 cup broth.
- Puree until smooth.
- Add the pureed corn and coconut milk to soup and stir. Bring to a simmer and let cook until potatoes and carrots are tender.
- Once tender add the remaining corn, thyme, salt and pepper to taste.
- Continuing simmering for a few minutes and remove from heat.
- Serve and enjoy!
