'GIFT FROM THE SEA' ~ CREAMY PINK SHELLFISH CHOWDER

"One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few."

~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh

~ Gifts from the sea

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CREAMY PINK SHELLFISH CHOWDER

~ From a favorite cookbook (Pamela Morgan's Flavors) comes the gift of this delicious chowder, perfect for Lent and meatless Fridays

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2 medium-sized peeled & 1/2-inch diced red-skinned potatoes (about 1 1/3 lbs.)

sea salt

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter

2 cups chopped yellow onions

3/4 cup finely chopped celery

1 peeled and finely chopped large carrot

1 Tbsp. Hungarian sweet paprika

1 tsp. crumbled dried thyme

1/4 tsp. fennel seeds

1 cup bottled clam juice

1 cup medium-dry white wine (like Michigan Chardonnay)

1 14-oz. can crushed (with juices) Italian plum tomatoes

2 cups half & half

1 Tbsp. tomato paste

freshly ground black pepper

3/4 lb. (about 28) shelled and deveined medium shrimp

3/4 lb. bay scallops

1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

1/3 cup medium-dry (Amontillado) sherry

• Bring small saucepan of water to boil over high heat. Add potatoes and 1 tsp. salt and cook, stirring once or twice until almost tender, about 6 minutes. Drain.
• In medium soup pot over moderate heat, melt butter. Add onion, celery, carrot, paprika, thyme and fennel seeds. Cover and cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes. Add clam juice, white wine, tomatoes, and their juices and half & half. Stir in tomato paste, 3/4 tsp. salt and a generous grinding of pepper. Bring to a simmer, partially cover and lower heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. Add potatoes and simmer for 10 minutes. The soup can be prepared to this point up to 1 day in advance. Cool, cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over low heat.
• Add shrimp, scallops, parsley and sherry. Simmer until shrimp are curled and pink and scallops are opaque, 3-5 minutes. Adjust seasonings and serve immediately. Complete meal with favorite fruit incorporated salad and crusty peasant or corn bread. (6 servings)