Corn and Crab Chowder

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan in a slow stream
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 all-purpose potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 ribs celery, chopped
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning blend, found near seafood department or, on spice aisle in your market
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups vegetable or chicken stock or broth
• 1 quart whole milk
• 3 cups corn kernels, scraped fresh from the cob or, frozen kernels
• 8 ounces cooked lump crab meat, fresh is available in plastic tubs at many fish counters
• 4 small bread boules, 6 inches, hollowed out, preferably sour dough, optional

Toppings:

• Oyster crackers
• Hot cayenne pepper sauce
• Sliced scallions

Directions

Heat a deep pot over moderate heat. Add oil and butter. As you chop your veggies, add them to the pot: potatoes, celery, onion, and red bell pepper. Add bay leaf to the pot. Season vegetables with salt and pepper and Old Bay seasoning. Saute veggies 5 minutes, then sprinkle in flour. Cook flour 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in broth and combine. Stir in milk and combine. Bring soup up to a bubble. Add corn and crab meat and simmer soup 5 minutes. Adjust the soup seasonings. Remove bay leaf. Ladle soup into bread bowls or soup bowls and top with oyster crackers, hot sauce and sliced scallions.