Friend of Julie: Corn Chowder with Sausage

I love a bowl of hot corn chowder, especially in the winter. This recipe is on my short list to make and when I do I'll add a photo.

Ingredients

• 2 packages organic sweet frozen corn
• 1 large yellow onion
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 4 cups organic chicken stock
• olive oil
• 2 poblano chili peppers (if you can find them)
• 2 large carrots, sliced thin
• 2 packs Al Fresco chicken sausage of whatever flavor you like (or any other sausage you prefer)
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• salt & pepper (salt optional)
• cilantro

Directions

1. If you are using the poblano peppers, cut in half, remove seeds and veins(wear gloves for protection), place under broiler until skin blisters, put in paper bag for 10 minutes, then peel and chop.
2. Cook sausage and cut.
3. Saute onion, celery, carrots and garlic, covered, on medium-low heat until carrots are a bit soft.
4. Add chicken stock, bring to a boil and add corn, peppers and simmer for just about 5 minutes until corn is done.
5. Using food processor or immersible wand, puree about half of the mixture…that will give you thickness without flour or other thickener.
6. Turn off heat, add as much chopped cilantro as you like (or if you don't like cilantro you could add fresh dill, or any other herb you prefer), and sausage
7. Salt and pepper to taste

Fritatta:
I'm going to give you the base recipe and then you can put in whatever you want, whatever you have hanging around in the fridge. I tend to make a lot because then there are easy leftovers.

Ingredients

• 1 large yellow onion
• 1 package organic turkey bacon-diced (or any other kind of meat you like)
• peppers/mushroom, summer squash, left over broccoli, whatever
• 8 large eggs, beaten with a couple of Tbs of water I sometimes add some parmesan to the beaten eggs)
• any kind of cheese you like
• any herbs you like
• olive oil

Directions

1. In large non-stick pan saute onions and bacon in olive oil until onions are soft and beginning to caramelize 
2. Add in other veggies and stir if pan has gone dry, add a bit more olive oil 
3. Heat pan on high for a minute add beaten eggs and immediately reduce heat to lowest setting
   cook over heat until eggs are set on the bottom and it looks like they are cooked at least half way through turn on broiler to low and place rack about 8 inches from flame 
4. Wrap pan handle in foil to protect from heat 
5. Put some more cheese on top  
6. Place under broiler until brown on top and eggs cooked all the way through…usually about 5 minutes