Slow Cooker Fennel Clam Chowder

I was craving some clam chowder so I started pulling out ingredients and then realized I didn't have any onions! But what I did have was a fennel bulb. Soooooo into the soup the fennel went.

Potatoes and Fennel

The soup has a sweet taste to it that I attribute to the fennel but if nobody told me there was fennel in the soup, I probably wouldn't have guessed it. So feel free to use fennel if you have it or an onion if you have that. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 4- 5 cups of potatoes, chopped (I used small potatoes and quartered them)
• 1 Tb avocado oil
• 2 tsp garlic, minced
• 5 stalks of celery, chopped
• 1 fennel bulb, chopped
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1, 15oz can corn
• 2, 6.5 oz clams, canned, chopped or whole or however you like
• 8 oz chicken stock or clam juice (I didn't have the latter)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground white pepper
• 1/4 c arrowroot starch (or flour)
• 3 cups whole milk (or other liquid if you don't do dairy)
• some scallions, chopped (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare garlic, celery, and fennel. Heat avocado oil in pan over medium heat. Add garlic, celery, and fennel. Stir and cook until lightly browned. Add thyme and cook until fragrant. Transfer to slow cooker. 
2. Chop potatoes (I prefer to leave skin on but peel if you'd rather). Add to slow cooker. Add in corn and clams (include liquid from corn and clams) and stock/clam juice. Add salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Set slow cooker for desired time. 
3. Wash used kitchen stuff and wipe off counter and go about your day until step 4. 
4.  30 minutes until your deliciousness is done, whisk together whole milk and arrowroot starch in the Pyrex you measured out the liquid in (one less thing to clean!). Add to slow cooker. Stir to combine. Close lid and keep cooking. Soup should thicken up.
5. Divide soup up into bowls and add scallions on top if desired. 
6. Once soup is cooled and if you have any leftover, freeze in individual (or whatever portion you prefer) bags/containers for another day!

souuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup

PSA: If you’ve had a rough start to the week (or even a rough month), I hope today is a turning point. Do something for you if that helps turn it around. Maybe it’s closing your eyes and counting to 30 while focusing on breathing in through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Maybe it’s making yourself that special tea you’ve been saving for a special moment. Maybe it’s putting on a lipstick you think is too bright to wear out and you put that lipstick on and you go out. Maybe it’s taking a shower. Maybe it’s reorganizing that utensil drawer that’s been bugging you. Whatever it is, I hope you have a minute (or more!) to yourself today that’s intentionally for you. 

In this pic, it's hot milk with a splash of coffee and drizzle of honey BUT I love a good large mug for drinking soup out of and re-heating in he microwave for leftovers. The handle keeps me from burning my hands off a hot bowl!

For more pics and commentary, check out my Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wearingpluotandkumquat/ and search #BabywearingDietitian.

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