Fresh Corn Chowder with Barbecue Shrimp.
I’m not a super creative person.
I believe that I swung on a few branches of the creativity tree but then lost my balance, bumped my head, and fell managing to miss every branch on the way down. My parents probably figured this out when I demanded on being Jem for the 6th Halloween in a row, but whatever… I liked sparkly pink wigs.
And you might not believe me, but it’s true.
I’d love to tell you that many of my culinary creations are the result of some seriously innovative brainstorming, buuuut…. they aren’t. They are often a consequence of determining what I haven’t made yet, what ingredients I can throw together that won’t bore me to tears, what I can make to avoid something too vegetabley and what isn’t utterly disgusting when combined. Because sometimes sour cream, mango and bacon just isn’t a good idea.
And there are other things too.
I lack all fashion sense. For real. I love clothes and you surely know my stance on shoes, but I can’t put something trendily cute together to save my soul. Just give me black.
I’m terribly bad at decorating too. I blame it on my annoyingly naive expensive taste, but I just don’t know what looks good together. Any time I attempt creative decor, our home looks like it is an art project completed by the preschool down the street.
And! We all know I don’t do crafts. No.freaking.way.
The only time I ever feel that stroke of genius is when I dip a spoon in a jar of peanut butter and smother it with chocolate chips.
So when I’m lacking ideas for dinner I’ll usually ask my mom for suggestions. She only makes a few of the same meals over and over again but she has quite an arsenal of recipes. Not only are her cupboards and drawers nearly busting open with boxes and bags filled with aloha cakes and steak marinades, but she is a serial newspaper clipper. After spending a portion of her morning reading the obituaries [fascinating… I hope I don’t inherit this trait from Mother Lovett] and doing the jumble, she cuts out all sorts of delicious looking things to add to her endless stacks that I totally steal. Which, thank goodness I do steal… or else my dad would be forced to take the bridge and you’d only see her, my brothers and me on Hoarders.
When she mentioned this corn chowder a few weeks ago, I stubbornly decided that it just didn’t sound good to me and there was nooo way I was making it. I brushed it off like the incredibly gross thousand-leg creeper centipede that I found CRAWLING UP MY LEG YESTERDAY (I know!!) and banned it to the I-will-never-ever-make-you-pile while eyeing up a sangria ingredients list. Priorities people.
But then the weirdest thing happened. I started craving this corn chowder. This dumb corn chowder that I had never even heard of and had no desire to make. It was all I could think about and kept me up until the wee hours of the morning this past weekend (well, maybe the Kardashians had something to do with that – are they ever not on TV?) and caused me to drink a giant coffee milkshake for breakfast the next day so I wouldn’t have to hold my eyes open with toothpicks.
Why are moms always right?
Fresh Corn Chowder with Bacon + Barbecue Shrimp
Ingredients
- 4 slices of bacon
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1/2 red pepper, diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons flour
- 1 cup of diced potatoes, 2 yukon gold potatoes worked
- 4 cups of fresh corn cut off the cob, this took 7 medium cobs for me
- 2 cups of chicken stock
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup cream or half and half
- 1/2 pound of raw peeled and deveined shrimp
- 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, add the bacon slices and cook until crispy and golden brown. Remove bacon and let drain on a paper towel. Add onions and peppers to the pot with a sprinkle of salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute. Whisk in the flour, cooking for 1-2 minutes or until flour becomes golden in color and smells a bit nutty. Add chicken stock, potatoes, and corn. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes.
- While soup is simmering (or before or after or whenever is convenient for you), heat your grill on the highest setting. Season shrimp with salt and pepper, brush with a thin layer or barbecue sauce, then cook for 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from grill and toss with remaining barbecue sauce.
- Once soup has slightly thickened and the potatoes have started to break down, stir in milk and cream. Add 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, then season according to your tastes. Serve in bowls topped with the crumbled bacon and shrimp. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to one week.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
For my next bowl, I’m just going to use the ladle as my spoon. This was irresistible. [/donotprint]
141 Comments on “Fresh Corn Chowder with Barbecue Shrimp.”
You may not think you are creative, but I certainly do! :) I don’t eat bacon, and this looks incredible! My husband would flip his sh** for this. Just thought you should know.
This is not my kinda food. Bacon, shrimp, I’d go into anaphalatic shock…but this would be Scott’s. He would worship this recipe.
Parents and grandparents who read the obituaries and almost look forward to it…YES…mine too!
And the Kardashian’s aren’t always on…there’s plenty of Real Housewives marathons on, over on Bravo :) E & Bravo,that’s about all I watch!
yeah, this is definitely going on my to-do list.
That looks soooooo good. I can totally understand what you are saying about using the ladle as your spoon for your next bowl.
But in reality I bet you have done that already.
I love this recipe…. That creeper going up your leg. eeeek!
PS- I’m not a crafts person AT ALL! Sooo sad, even my stick people!
Oh my! Totally making this – and soon!!! Would breakfast be too soon, you think?
I am the worst decorator. We have a lovely undecorated home and im fine with it! Love me some corn chowder, especially when it has a nice kick to it.
Uncreative people rule. As does this chowder, love the flavour combinations!
I think you’re creative! :D
This soup looks incredible!!!!
This is beautiful!
I love corn chowders — ok I like just about any kind of chowder. But I’m sorry that is the only comment I can come up with because I CANNOT BELIEVE that you had one of those gross gross gross centipede things on your leg. I know exactly what you’re talking about and now I keep reaching down to scratch my leg and hoping and praying that there isn’t one on me! I would seriously run out of the house screaming.
I KNOW.
Ahh yes I remember the pumpkin craft! :) Don’t worry, what you lack in crafting ability you TOTALLY make up for in the kitchen. We can’t be amazing at everything, right? Oh, andI like the ladle as a spoon idea… fewer dishes… bonus!!
Perfect since we’re coming up on soup season! This looks great!
Yum! I recently made a fresh, summer corn chowder too! Good stuff!
Ooooh fresh corn. I am proud to say that I grew up surrounded by cornfields in Central Illinois! Hope we contributed to this dish!
Looks perfect for Fall. You’re going to convert me on shrimp one of these days will all these delicious looking recipes!
ten points for Mom.
apparently Mom’s really do know what’s best.
[but let’s not go telling anyone, ahem. Shugarmom ahem., that I said that outloud, okay?
at least not until the “Great debate of Summer 2011” is over ;)
It’s true that moms are always right-I’m a mom, so I know! ;-) This looks delicious, minus the shrimp of course!
I am so glad my power came back on last night…I have been DYING to see what you have been up to since my power went out on Saturday! Darn that hurricane Irene!
I’ve been wondering where you are Kim and worrying about you! Glad to see you got power back, Yikes!
ok. 1, you are super creative. no way would i have thought of this incredible soup. 2, i want this soup for my birthday party in september. i don’t really know if i’m having a birthday party, but i still want this soup. 3, i miss you.
the end
Gee, where do I start? Ok, let’s backtrack.
I want a coffee milkshake for breakfast.
This must have smelled and tasted delicious.
That creepy crawly thing is disgusting and it was crawling up your leg??!! I would have screamed and started jumping around.
You 5th picture is absolutely stunning. The colors and setup are awesome!
Personally, Jessica, I like your creativity. ;-) Keep up the good work!
Mmmmm…..bacon…
Thank you!
This looks amazing, hard to go wrong with bacon ;) Really, just need some sop bread and I’m ready for lunch! YUM
Listen, fashion shmashion – there’s nothing like a cute black top. I am requesting a NON-humble post full of great things about you! You can write about how you get me through some long days at work, and how your cookie dough dip and greek dip made me look like a superhero at my in-law’s family reunion. You rock lady.
Hahaha, that is very sweet Caitlin. Glad it was a hit. :)
If you ever want to meet someone without an ounce of creativity, give me a call. You’ll feel much better about yourself :)
I am loving this dish!
Let’s be friends.
on your leg? I would have died!!! Screamed, showed, died, repeat.
That above shot of the corn chowder is absolutely amazing.
You nailed it. That’s exactly what I did.
Corn…bacon…and shrimp! Talk about a trifecta!
When the first picture is bacon…you know it’s gonna be good. This looks incredddible! :)
This looks incredible. I’m torn though, between whether or not I love the bowls/spoon set more or what’s inside. It’s a REALLY close call for me. I think that luscious hunk of shrimp sold me on the latter.
Hehehe – the bowls are from Sur La Table.
Ahhh, I should’ve known!
You may not feel creative, but girl you got more creativity running through you than you even know. That looks AMAZING!
This looks amazing! I may have to rearrange my meal plans this week.
That looks soo tasty. And seems like the perfect kind of meal to make in winter, when you really want summer to come back.
Ummm. I think you are so creative!!! This looks really good. Perfect for this Summer/Fall season.
Creative or not ( which, for the record, I think you totally ARE), your blog is amazing. I get excited every day just to see what you are cooking up over here and everything I have tried so far is incredible and for that, myself, my stomach and my husband thank you! YUM :)
That is so kind – thank you so much!
Is there anything more lovely than bacon in sunlight? Nope. I’d love to say I paid attention to the rest of the post but after the centipede crawling up the leg thing, I blacked out.
Nothing more lovely… agreed.
I made a corn, crab, and shrimp chowder last week that was amazing and this will take it to the next level! Can’t wait to try it
holy cow… that looks AMAZING! I’ve actually been looking for a corn chowder recipe… one with bacon of course ;) and bbq shrimp? Hello! I’m in!
my sister just made Corn & crab chowder from bon appetite magazine two nights ago…. it was AWESOME. I am in love. This one sounds really awesome too!
Crab! Oh man, I need to make that recipe.
I’m going to have to disagree with you in saying you are most definitely creative, at least in the kitchen! This chowder looks delicious and with the corn being super amazing this time of year, a must make.
PS- I would’ve lost my sh$t if I found a centipede crawling up my leg! I HATE those things!
I didn’t think that anyone could fully understand my hatred for bugs, but you just might.
Uh-mazing. I must make this.
This looks so good!
First, I have to tell you when I read the post title I heard “Chowda!” as the New Englanders like to say (To be fair, we have silly accents here in NJ too). Second, great suggestion from your Mom! Must be some good recipes hidden amongst the Obit’s :).
Lastly, this is great! Perfect timing, as weather cools and puts us in the mood for warmer foods. Thanks for making this recipe after all!
I sort of said it like that for the last 3 days too. ;)
Haha my grand-mother is also reading the obituaries every day. Apparently there is people she knows most of time and she wouldn’t want to miss knowing about it. Then she get scared of dying. Hum. Non-sense. I wonder if we will all do it…
I would actually define creativity with pretty close to a quote from this — putting together the things you have, in a way you haven’t had them before, and that isn’t totally disgusting.
This looks delicious! A little more work than my M.O. of late, but maybe after grad school … or when the kid’s outta diapers! :)
Also — I love PB spoonfuls studded with chocolate chips. I used to eat that every afternoon … back when I watched Jem! (I was more of a Kimber fan myself.)
CRAWLING UP YOUR LEG?!?!
I just broke out in heebie-jeebie shudders all the way over there. GROSS.
This looks really fantastic! I love how plump the shrimp looks. Can’t decide if this soup is better suited for warm weather or whether I need to make it asap while fresh corn is still at its prime. Thoughts? ;)
I completely agree – I am rarely a soup person in the summer. But you can’t pass this up with the corn! Not sure how you’d do it in winter… maybe with frozen?
Yummmy Yumm!
I don’t consider myself creative either, but I’m left handed and I vaguely remember being told in psych classes that left handed people use their creative brain more. I think….I also was half asleep in these classes, so maybe that’s not actually what they were saying
I have to say that I don’t eat bacon or shrimp (and from the looks of this recipe alone, I may be missing out on life). But I am totally with you in the bug-hating and personal fashion departments.
Peanut butter with chocolate chips on a spoon is good. Try this one to branch out: one chocolate chip laying atop a cinnamon Teddy Graham. Eat it in one chomp bite. I’m trademarking that recipe so don’t try to use it one here ;)
You are one smart cookie. Get working on that patent!!
This sounds absolutely amazing!!! And as for that centipede-eeeewwwwwww!! I don’t know what it is about bugs that are so freaky, but they definitely freak me out.
I’m gonna make out with this chowder while my husband watches. That is how I will spend my weekend.
God I love you.
Man, I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but that looks soooo good! I am an avid believer that corn is only to be eaten off the cob. I don’t like corn in soup, biscuits, salad or any other random dish people like to throw corn into. I like it dripping with butter and salt and pepper straight from the cob, but I think I’m going to have to make this chowder! It looks yummy!
This made my day.