Corn, Clam, And Mussel Chowder

• 2 bacon slices, chopped
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3/4 cup chopped celery
• 3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 2 cups diced red potato
• 2 (8-ounce) bottles clam juice
• 2 cups fresh corn kernels
• 20 mussels (about 1 pound), scrubbed and debearded
• 3/4 cup half-and-half
• 1/2 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 (6 1/2-ounce) cans minced clams, liquid reserved
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Thyme sprigs

1. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bacon to pan; cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Add onion, celery, and chopped thyme to pan; cook 8 minutes or until softened, stirring frequently. Add potato and bottled juice; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, 9 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
2. Stir in corn and mussels; bring to a boil. Cover and cook 5 minutes or until mussels open; discard any unopened shells. Combine half-and-half, milk, and flour in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Stir half-and-half mixture and clams into pan; cook 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Stir in 2 tablespoons reserved clam liquid and salt. Garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired.
3. Tomato and fennel salad: Combine 4 cups torn romaine lettuce, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, and 1 cup sliced fennel bulb in a large bowl. Combine 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 teaspoons honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl. Gradually add 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, stirring constantly with a whisk. Pour vinaigrette over lettuce mixture; toss well.

bacon, onion, celery, thyme, red potato, clam juice, corn kernels, mussels, milk, allpurpose, liquid reserved, salt, thyme

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/corn-clam-mussel-chowder (may not work)