MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER

2 C. 1/2 IN. DICED POTATOES

5 C. FRESH CHOPPED CLAMS

4 C. CLAM JUICE

8 OZ. SLICED BACON

1/3 C. 1/2 IN. DICED CELERY

1/3 . 1/2 IN. DICED ONION

12 OZ. CAN ITALIAN TOMATOES

2 TBSP. MINCED GARLIC

SALT AND PEPPER (TO TASTE)

3 BAY LEAVES

DIRECTIONS:

SAUTE BACON IN A LARGE POT UNTIL CRISPY.

REMOVE THE BACON.

SAUTE ONIONS, CELERY, AND GARLIC IN BACON

DRIPPINGS FOR 1 MINUTE.

ADD POTATOES AND CLAM JUICE TO POT.

BRING POTATOES TO A BOIL AND ADD CLAMS, SALT,

PEPPER AND BAY LEAVES.

TURN HEAT TO SIMMER AND COOK UNTIL POTATOES ARE TENDER.

PLACE THE TOMATOES IN A MIXING BOWL AND

ROUGHLY CRUSH BY HAND.

ADD TO POT.

CRUMBLE THE BACON AND ADD TO POT.

ADJUST SEASONINGS.

YIELD: 2 QUARTS