autumn starts the soup season

This begins my favorite time of the year!  The temperature drops so that even if it is on the humid side, it's not uncomfortable.  Trees here become outstandingly beautiful.  And i enjoy wearing boots and jackets and scarves -- dressing for the weather means more dashing outfits are appropriate.

Autumn also means that soups and stews are good choices.  I've been a soup enthusiast all my life!  Chili and gumbo CAN be eaten year-round, but they're much more attractive when their heat as well as their HEAT is appealing ... and who wants to toil in the kitchen when it's 90 in the shade?!

Last night's forecast was temperatures in the 40s;  i came out to our almost-finished sunroom this morning in my kimono and drank my coffee in front of the gas fire, feet on the hearth.  [sigh]. Lovely!

When lunchtime came around, i pulled out a can of minced clams, cream, and the konjac flour, and made us a batch of chowder:

QUICK-AND-DIRTY CLAM CHOWDER

small can minced clams, undrained
2 T bacon grease
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 t minced garlic
1/2 c clam juice
1 c heavy cream
1/4 t pepper
konjac flour in a shaker-jar

In a medium saucepan, melt the bacon grease and brown the onions slightly.  Add the garlic and stir a minute, then add the clams with their liquid and the juice.  Bring to a boil, then add the cream;  when it returns to a simmer, whisk in some konjac flour SLOWLY -- it's very easy to overdo!  Correct the seasoning, which to my tastebuds was just a little black pepper.

ENJOY!  :-D