Boston-Style Creamy Clam Chowder - Down Home Cooking Recipes

Ingredients

• 4 ounces salt pork or bacon, cut into 1/2-inch dice or ground in the food processor (about 1 cup) (see Notes)
• 6 tablespoons butter, plus more if needed
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large celery stalk, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups bottled clam juice (see Notes)
• 2 cups water, plus more if needed
• 1 pound all-purpose potatoes, peeled and diced (about 3 cups)
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh (see Notes)
• 1 bay leaf, broken in half
• 3 cups chopped hard-shell clams with their liquor (see Notes)
• 11/2 cups heavy cream
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley