New England Chowder – wailana.com

Ingredients

• 4 tsp butter
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped celery (2 stalks)
• 2 Tbsp minced garlic (4-6 cloves)
• 5 cups water
• 3 cups cubed potato (2-3 potatoes)
• 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (like carrot and corn)
• 2 bay leaves
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp salt or to taste
• 2 Tbsp minced nori seaweed* or to taste
• 2 cups chopped button mushrooms
• 1 cup half-and-half (cream)
• ⅓ cup unbleached white flour
• 1-2 Tbsp simulated bacon bits
• 1 tsp dried parsley (or 1 Tbsp minced fresh)