Clam Chowder - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 stick butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 rib celery, diced
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp. crushed thyme
1/2 c. flour
4 c. cubed, cooked potatoes
cooked bacon, crumbled
minced clams (with nectar), cooked

Preparation

In heavy pot, melt butter and saute onion, garlic and celery. Add salt, pepper, bay leaf and thyme.
Gradually add flour until smooth.
Cook 3 minutes. Do not let brown.
Gradually stir in milk with wire whisk, keeping mixture smooth.
Add clams with nectar. Bring to a boil for 1 minute. Add potatoes and bacon, heating until hot. Thin with hot milk if a soupier chowder is preferred. Remove bay leaf and serve piping hot.