Southwest Potato Corn Chowder

I took this recipe from Pillsbury.com. I double the recipe since it said it was for only 2 servings. It is quite filling and very delicious. It also freezes great.  I made 4 batches of this recently and it was a great thing to give to friends who just needed a break from cooking or were sick, etc.  This tastes quite yummy with a good loaf of homemade bread (I love good bread…if only I new how to bake good bread).

Here is the recipe for 2 servings:

INGREDIENTS

3 unpeeled medium red potatoes (3/4 lb), cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 1/2 cups Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)

3/4 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Pinch ground red pepper (cayenne) - (I omitted this since I don't like things very spicey)

3/4 cup frozen corn

2 tablespoons chopped roasted red bell pepper (from a jar), well drained

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese (2 oz)

1/3 cup Greek Fat Free plain yogurt (from a 6-oz container)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

2 medium green onions, finely chopped (2 tablespoons)

2 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled

DIRECTIONS

• 1In 2-quart saucepan, place potatoes. Add water just to cover. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cover and boil gently (simmer) about 15 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender. Drain. Reserve 1/2 cup potatoes; return remaining potatoes to saucepan. In small bowl, mash reserved potatoes with fork.
• 2Stir reserved mashed potatoes back into remaining potatoes in saucepan, along with broth, sugar, garlic salt, pepper, ground red pepper, corn and roasted red bell pepper. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 3In small bowl, stir flour into milk with whisk until well mixed; stir into potato mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens and boils. Stir in cheese until melted. Remove from heat; stir in yogurt, cilantro and green onions. Serve topped with bacon and, if desired, additional green onions.

For a healthier topping to use instead of the bacon, top off bowls of steaming chowder with seasoned croutons or fish-shaped crackers.

You can substitute fresh red bell pepper instead of the roasted red bell pepper.