Wednesday, April 3, 2013

C = Chihuahuas and Clam Chowder

c
I am thrilled to bits, I finally reached 100 followers yesterday, thanks so much to all of you and especially to Al Diaz, Father Dragon, for being #100.

A lot of people don’t like Chihuahuas, but I think they are a great little dog. My mother had two of them both of the black and tan colouring, I don’t remember the name of one but the other was Henriquetta la Pequeña, or Quetta for short. They were both the bravest little dogs you can imagine and would stand up to dogs many times their size if necessary. They are also extremely intelligent animals. ChihuahuaApparently their origins are shrouded in mystery, although the favourite theory is that they were the dogs of the Toltecs: the current breed was discovered in Chihuahua, Mexico hence the name. They were used in religious ceremonies and were pets to the upper class. They were certainly great pets in my parent’s household and my mother took hers everywhere (she only had one at a time). In fact Quetta used to have a basket which she lay in on the bar in the yacht club whilst my German Shepherd lay on the floor below. They got on fine. I always remember Jayne Mansfield, an actress/singer trying to smuggle one into England in her purse. There was, maybe still is, a strict quarantine law in the UK and any dog entering the country had to spend time in a kennel until it was sure it didn’t have rabies. Jayne Mansfield tried to circumvent this law but got caught.

When we lived in North Carolina, Matt could walk out into the sound almost anywhere and rake up a mess of clams, we never had to buy canned clams of any kind. I would then cook them long enough that they would open up and virtually proceed as shown. We also used to add a can of corn and I ate one chowder in which the cook had added something spicy, not sure what, but it was delicious. If you get fresh clams, make sure they are the smaller ones, they call the big ones chowder clams but they can be very tough.

Clam Chowder

Allrecipes.com

Clam Chowder
Submitted By: PIONEERGIRL

Photo By: DEJAVU1669

Servings: 8

"A delicious, traditional cream-based chowder, this recipe calls for the standard chowder ingredients: onion, celery, potatoes, diced carrots, clams, and cream. A little red wine vinegar is added before serving for extra flavour."

Ingredients:
3 (6.5 ounce) cans minced clams
1 cup minced onion
1 cup diced celery
2 cups cubed potatoes
1 cup diced carrots
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 quart half-and-half cream
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
Drain juice from clams into a large skillet over the onions, celery, potatoes and carrots. Add water to cover, and cook over medium heat until tender.
Meanwhile, in a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Whisk in cream and stir constantly until thick and smooth. Stir in vegetables and clam juice. Heat through, but do not boil.
Stir in clams just before serving. If they cook too much they get tough. When clams are heated through, stir in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper.

Have a great day
Jo_thumb[2]

39 comments:

  1. Father Dragon being your 100th follower has got to mean something... Hasn't it?! What a lovely dog. We only ever had large dogs but they were pretty intelligent too.

    Rosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain

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    1. I always had German Shepherds although our last dog was a mutt, but a big and highly intelligent dog, as were the Shepherds.

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  2. Living near the Oregon coast meant we had fresh clams and clam chowder all the time. One restaurant in particular was quite famous for it - Mo's. When I still ate seafood, nothing beat Mo's clam chowder.

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    1. Didn't know You lived in Oregon, that's a state I have always wanted to visit. We used to get fresh clams when we lived in NC. Old man would just walk out into the water and get some.

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  3. Clam chowder...yum yum...still remember the one we had in Maine.

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    1. I used to make it a lot when we lived in NC. So easy to go get clams.

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  4. I haven't made clam chowder in years. I may have to go dig out my recipe from my old-fashioned recipe card box with my handwritten recipes.

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    1. I don't make it now, clams cost $1 a piece where I live.

      Have all my recipes on a computer programme.

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  5. I'm always attracted to blog posts involving dogs. I have heard of Chihuahuas and remember the YJayne Mansfield incidence. Have yet to see one though.

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    1. I'm surprised, there are lots of them in the UK, dahn sahth anyway. Well, there used to be, things could have changed since I was living there.

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  6. I have a German Shepherd but if I ever get another dog it will be a small one.I always wondered if chihuahuas were easy or hard to train. I don't think I've ever eaten a clam but that chowder looks good.
    Is Anyone There

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    1. I don't remember about training, I wasn't living at home by then. I was very involved in training German Shepherds, I had three at one time.

      Clam chowder is good, but its best if you can get fresh clams.

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  7. look at that little face... awee.
    i first thought you were making a doggie-soup :)

    Jeremy [Retro]
    AtoZ Challenge Co-Host
    Oh No, Let's Go... Crazy

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  8. I think chihuahuas are adorable! Clam chowder, not so much as I'm a vegetarian! Fun post concept! Happy A-to-Z 2013! ~Angela, Whole Foods Living

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  9. Chihuahua dogs are my favorite. My beloved shredder is a Chihuahua and her colors are also black and tanned. And her mother's name was Quetta!
    Your cream looks so yummy! Thanks for the mention. It made me smile yesterday when I noticed I was the 100. :D

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    1. Coincidence Al. I always loved my mother's dogs but I have never owned one myself.

      Your 100 made me smile lots. Hope you have lots of gold to keep you comfortable.

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  10. I love those little things! My neighbour has three of them, and breeds more, and we're lucky enough to dog sit. They are funny, amazing little creatures.

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    1. I think so too. Always enjoyed the ones my mother owned.

      Thanks for dropping by.

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  11. My husband will love this recipe! Thanks.

    I know several people who have Chihuahuas. They're the cutest dogs and very well-behaved.

    Barbara
    C is for: Chocolate (and other things)
    www.barbarawhitedaille.com/blog


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  12. wow that recipe looks so good. i'll have to try it.
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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    1. For some reason Blogger decided you were spam. Sorry not replied before. I love clam chowder.

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  13. They are cute aren't they? lots of people like to carry them around wherever they go.

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  14. Nice blog! I'm enjoying it. And thanks for your comments on mine!!!

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  15. my chihuahua will be on my site tomorrow...you are invited!

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    1. Ok Zoe, will try and drop by. Thanks for visiting.

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  16. Interesting and well written blog post although I can't claim that either of your subjects for letter C are dear to my heart!

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    1. Sorry about that L. Maybe you should buy a few clams and try making a chowder - its delicious. Or you could go clamming off the coast where your caravan is.

      Thanks for dropping by.

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  17. I've only had fresh clam chowder here a couple times, but ten times better than canned!

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    1. Oh definitely, especially when you go and get the clams yourself.

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  18. You always seem to come up with some great recipes. Do you cook a lot at home? Although I'm not a shell fish lover, my hubby loves the stuff and I have made a variation of this recipe using just fish... the non-shell kind.

    Keep up the Challenge

    Patricia, Sugar & Spice & All Things ? Nice

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    1. Actually not as much as I used to Patricia, can't stand for long any more. Fish chowders are popular too. If you can make your hubby a clam chowder, I am sure he would love it.

      Will do.

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  19. Replies
    1. Thanks Duncan and thanks for dropping by.

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  20. Lovely little dogs, but seafood of any kind, can't do. But I bet it's good all the same!

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    1. That's a shame, its not only great to eat, but so healthy.

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