Smoked Cheddar and Seafood Chowder with Mini Grilled Cheeses | Recipes | Cracker Barrel

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup (75 mL) butter, divided
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) diced red bell pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) finely chopped fresh thyme
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) black pepper
• 3 tbsp (45 mL) all-purpose flour
• 1 bottle (236 mL) clam juice
• 2 cups (500 mL) whole milk
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) heavy or whipping (35%) cream
• 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) diced Yukon Gold potatoes
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tsp (10 mL) Old Bay seasoning
• 8 oz (250 g) cod fillet, cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) chunks
• 8 oz (250 g) bay scallops
• 8 oz (250 g) tails-removed deveined peeled medium shrimp (16–20 count)
• 1 Cracker Barrel Smoked Cheddar Block (340 g), divided
• 24 slices baguette
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) mayonnaise
• 2 tsp (10 mL) Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) finely chopped fresh chives
• Pinch freshly grated nutmeg