Crab Chowdah

I have had half a pound of lump crab meat
sitting in the freezer and I wanted to make something
good with it.
Something new and interesting.

But what?

How about a chowdah,
er, chowder?

Sounds like it's time to to turn to my good
friend Rosie Hawthorne of Kitchens Are Monkey Business
for advice.

Rosie gave me some ideas about
chowder and I went to work.

First I made the shrimp stock.

When we switched over the food from the old

fridge to the new one, I found two bags of shrimp shells.

I added 

1 carrot,

1 1/2 celery ribs

1/4 onion

2 garlic cloves

10 whole black peppercorns

I let this just barely simmer for just under an hour.

Do not let the bubbles reach the surface.

We shooed the Foodie Boyfriend out of the house

before making this as the smell

would have made him sick

since he is allergic to shellfish.

The stock is done.

After straining through cheese cloth,

the shrimp stock is ready for the chowdah.

The rest of the players for the chowdah.

2 slices bacon, chopped

4 ounces lump crab meat

1 carrot, diced

1 celery rib, diced

1/4 onion, diced

1 garlic clove, grated

1 large potato, diced

1/4 cup sherry

not shown: half and half

and the shrimp stock

salt to taste

black pepper

1 tablespoon Italian parsley, finely chopped, for garnish

2 tablespoons chives, finely chopped, for garnish

I fried the bacon pieces until they were crispy.

Then I added the carrots, celery and onion

and allowed them to sweat for a few minutes

before adding the garlic.

After a minute I added the potatoes.

Then I added the sherry and enough shrimp stock and

half and half to give the chowder the consistency 

I wanted.

If you find you need more liquid, 

then add more later.

Cook until the potatoes are nearly done

and add the crab at the end so that it 

can heat through.

Garnish with the fresh herbs and enjoy.

Even my picky husband who usually prefers

the can o'soup to my homemade soups

loved this.

Too bad the Foodie Boyfriend couldn't enjoy this.

Many thanks to Rosie Hawthorne for 

steering me in the right direction.