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Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder

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Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder

I was given 2 hams for Thanksgiving. These were not used at our feast at my sister’s house (she hosted yay!), so here I am with a huge amount of ham and what to do with it? Make Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder of course!

The chowder also includes onion and garlic, chicken broth, and heavy cream. I used cheddar in the soup, and parmesan shavings to top the soup. Cheese and more cheese is a fabulous thing. 🙂 This really was absolutely delicious and was accompanied by a light salad and a French demi baquette.

Cauliflower, ham, chicken broth, garlic, onion, heavy cream, and potato
Some Ingredients for Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder

The ham imparted such an amazing flavor to the soup and I’m happy that I have more ham so that I can whip up this soup again!

Benefits of Eating Cauliflower

Cauliflower
Healthy and Nutritious Cauliflower!

So turns out this soup is pretty good for you! It includes cauliflower, which is on a list of Powerhouse Fruits and Vegetables from the CDC. I just discovered this list of produce ranked by nutrient density. These are supposed to be some of the best foods you can eat to help prevent chronic disease. Cauliflower is #24!

Cauliflower is a great source of fiber and vitamins, including the B-vitamins, C, and K. It also contains cancer fighting antioxidants. I’m going to work on incorporating more cauliflower into my diet after learning this!

Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder and Bread

You will absolutely love this soup! And you may also enjoy these soups as well!

The BEST Spicy Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

Broccoli and Cheddar Soup and bread

New Hampshire Inspired New England Clam Chowder

New England Clam Chowder

Cheers!

Grace

Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder

Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder

Grace
So creamy and delicious, this is perfect for using up leftover Thanksgiving ham, or anytime you desire some serious comfort food!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 21 mins
Total Time 31 mins
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 3 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 small potato peeled and cut into small pieces
  • 1/4-1/2 lb diced ham
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 head cauliflower cut into small pieces
  • 32 oz chicken broth you may have some left over
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
  • parmesan cheese shavings as soup garnish (optional)
  • cayenne pepper to sprinkle on top (optional)
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Heat up your olive oil in a large sauce pan on med – med high heat. Add your onion and garlic, and saute until softened, around 3-5 minutes.
  • Add the ham, and stir fry for around 3 minutes. Then add the cauliflower and potato and give it a stir.
  • Add enough chicken broth to cover the mixture and then bring to the boil. Cover, then lower to a simmer and simmer for around 15 minutes, or until the potato and cauliflower are tender.
  • Turn the heat down to low. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and heavy whipping cream. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

Top this deliciously creamy soup with parmesan shavings and some cayenne pepper to give it a kick if you like!  Serve with a side salad and some French bread for a completely satisfying meal!
Keyword chowder, creamy, ham, Soup

West African Soupe Gumbo – 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about delicious West African Soupe Gumbo!

West African Soupe Gumbo

The Gambia, West Africa

It has been many years since I had the privilege of traveling to West Africa, but I remember much of it as if it was yesterday.

We made a trip to The Gambia, and also spent a little time in Senegal. These countries were the most exotic and amazing places that I had been to at the time. I was blown away by the scenery, by the endless possibility for adventure, but most of all blown away by the people.

Cows on the beach in The Gambia
Cows on the beach in The Gambia (West Africa)

The people were so friendly, and full of joy. I hope to make it back there again someday!

1,000 Foods To Eat Project

I wasn’t a foodie back then, so unfortunately didn’t focus in on the food. However, I am now keen on trying as many different types of foods as I can, and working my way through my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project. This project is based on the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton.

West African Soupe Gumbo

One of the foods in the book, and in my project, is Soupe Gumbo, from West Africa. When many of of us think of gumbo, we probably think of Louisiana style gumbo. However, did you know that the seeds from the okra pods originally came over to the Americas from slaves who came from West Africa? Per Mimi Sheraton in 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, “the American “gumbo”comes from the Bantu word for okra.”

There is a description for a Soupe Gumbo from the Ivory Coast in the book, but not a recipe. I played around with the ingredients of this soup and was able to come up with an absolutely delicious version, which I hope might taste like something you might find on the Ivory Coast!

I hope you will enjoy this hearty and delicious soup which contains okra, chicken, onions, and one of my favorites – scotch bonnet peppers. 🙂

Soupe Gumbo

Enjoy a taste of West Africa! This is #3 on my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project.

Soupe Gumbo

West African Soupe Gumbo

Grace
Try this hearty and delicious West African Soupe Gumbo!  Spicy and fiery, serve with lots of white rice, and enjoy a taste of the Ivory Coast!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Course Main Course
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb chicken thighs
  • 2 scotch bonnet peppers diced
  • 1 onion diced
  • 100 grams okra topped and tailed
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 15 oz tomato sauce
  • 1 ts pepper
  • salt to taste
  • 4 green onions sliced for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a skillet on med high.  Add the chicken thighs, and fry each side for approximately 4-6 minutes until browned.  Remove to a plate, and allow to cool.  Once cooled shred the chicken. 
  • Add scotch bonnets and onion to a food processor, and process until diced.
    Diced onion and scotch bonnet peppers
  • Top and tail your okra.  Cut into bite sized pieces. 
    Cut okra
  • Heat up stove to med high, and add to a stock pot the chicken broth, diced scotch bonnets and onion, okra, and shredded chicken.
    Chicken broth onion scotch bonnet and okra
  • Add the tomato sauce, pepper, and a pinch of salt, and bring to the boil. 
    Soupe Gumbo Ingredients
  • Turn down to medium low, and simmer for 15 minutes.  Taste and season with additional salt if desired. 

Notes

This dish is meant to be hot and fiery!  However if you’d like to try it but are not keen on hot and spicy foods, either leave out the diced scotch bonnets, or leave it whole and add to the soup whole when you add the okra, rather than diced. Enjoy this with lots of white rice and garnished with green onions! 
Keyword Soup

New Hampshire Inspired New England Clam Chowder – 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

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This page may contain affiliate links. So I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about New England Clam Chowder, one of the foods in my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project!

New England Clam Chowder With Green Onions and Bread

October 2017 we had the privilege of visiting New England in the fall.  Wow!  The colors were AMAZING!  Our main destination was Maine, and we drove from Boston through New Hampshire into Maine and traveled along coastal Maine through crisp fall weather and gazing at beautiful fall foliage.

State of New Hampshire Welcome Center Sign with People

En route to Maine we stopped at the Hayseed Restaurant (accompanies the Smuttynose Brewing Company) in New Hampshire. The Hayseed is where I had my first ever New England Clam Chowder while in New England.

Prior to even leaving for Maine, I had been anticipating eating my first clam chowder in New England. As I have always loved clam chowder, I couldn’t wait to have my first bowl! This chowder did not disappoint. 🙂

Here you’ll find my recipe that tries to recreate this creamy clam chowder.  I hope you’ll agree that this clam chowder provides a taste of New England!!

Celery Garlic Potato Onion and Green Onion
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Sunday nights are movie nights at my home, and this Sunday we watched "In the Heart of the Sea." This is a true story about the whaling ship Essex, which was rammed and sunk by a sperm whale in 1820. This story actually inspired Herman Melville to write his classic book Moby Dick. If you love adventure movies watch this amazing film! On movie nights I try to cook a meal that is somehow inspired by the film, and very often the inspiration is the setting. This film setting starts off in New England, and right away I knew I was going to cook up New England Clam Chowder. This has always been one of my favorite soups, and I was thrilled to be able to try it in New Hampshire a couple of years ago, at The Hayseed Restaurant, in Hampton New Hampshire. It was really good, and I'm happy to say that my version I believe is pretty good too. 🙂 Get the recipe here: https://explorecookeat.com/new-hampshire-inspired-new-england-clam-chowder I really enjoyed our visit to New England, and hope to write more about it soon! Cheers! Grace #clamchowder #newenglandclamchowder #soup #souprecipe #dinnertonight #lovetocook #sabestfoodpics #intheheartofthesea #movienight🎬 #snowsclams #myrecipe #homecook #chowder #ilovesoup #sanantonioblogger #safoodie #safood #safoodpics #recipeshare #eatfortheinsta

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1,000 Foods to Eat Project

New England Clam Chowder is one of the foods listed in the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton. It became #19 in my quest to try each and every one of the foods in the book.

1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die Front Jacket
1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die

Please follow along with me on this quest to try the 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, from the book by Mimi Sheraton! Join me in this journey and discover new foods, experiences, and cuisines which I hope will add inspiration, fun, and joy to your life! For a list of the foods tried so far visit the 1,000 Foods to Eat Project page.

If you’d like to follow along and be a part of the 1,000 Foods Project, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It’s an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 🙂

New England clam Chowder

Other Great Soup Recipes!

If you love soup you may also love these soup recipes!

West African Soupe Gumbo

The BEST Spicy Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

Delaware Chicken and Slippery Dumplings

I’d love your feedback! Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated! Cheers! Grace

Bowl of New England Clam Chowder

New Hampshire Inspired New England Clam Chowder

Enjoy a taste of New England with this delicious clam chowder!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 slices bacon cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 ribs celery diced
  • 1 large potato peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
  • 4 6.5oz chopped clams
  • 1.5 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 ea green onions sliced for garnish
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 ts chicken bouillon seasoning I used Maggi
  • corn starch to thicken if desired

Instructions
 

  • Cut bacon into bite sized pieces and brown in a large saucepan or stockpot 
  • Drain cooked bacon on paper towels
  • Cook the onion and garlic in the bacon fat on med heat for 3 minutes stirring occasionally
  • Add the celery and cook another 2 minutes
  • Add potatoes, 1.5 cup chicken broth, 1/2 teaspoon of chicken bouillon granules and bring to the boil
  • Turn down heat to med low, and simmer for around 15 minutes (until potatoes are tender) 
  • Add 1 cup of heavy cream and all the clams (with all their juices) and stir to combine
  • If at this point the chowder is too thin for your liking, add some corn starch (follow directions on your corn starch container as to how to add the corn starch)
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.  (Go easy on the salt as the chowder will likely be salty due to the bacon and other ingredients)

Notes

Scoop your chowder into some bowls, add bacon bits and green onions on top, and enjoy the taste of New England!!

The BEST Spicy Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

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Broccoli and Cheddar Soup and bread

At the time I write this, it is winter, and a large part of the mid West is suffering from extreme temperatures due to a Polar Vortex. Here in San Antonio we’ll be in the 50’s over the next couple of days. This is t-shirt weather compared to up North! I’m really praying that our neighbors in the mid West suffering through this weather stay safe and warm!! One soup that is guaranteed to warm you up anytime is this Spicy Broccoli and Cheddar Soup!

Cold winter days call for warming soups and stews. I’ve been cooking quite a few of these lately, and one of my favorites is also quite spicy, which ups the “warming” factor.

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Delaware Chicken and Slippery Dumplings

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about delicious Delaware Chicken and Slippery Dumplings!

Delaware Chicken and Slippery Dumplings Soup

Delaware is a mid-Atlantic state that is pretty much surrounded by water. Therefore it has miles of beautiful beaches and many coastal towns to explore.  It is known as “The First State,”due to it being the first of the original 13 states to ratify the US Constitution.  

I wanted to cook a dish inspired by the state of Delaware, so did some research.

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