New England Clam Chowder in the Slow Cooker

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I feel very lucky that we live pretty close to the coast. If we hopped in the car, we'd see the ocean within 15 minutes --- that's pretty cool.
I'm kind of embarrassed that we don't take advantage of this as often as we should. 
My kids love the beach. Adam loves the beach. I love the beach. 
Yet most of our weekends are filled with boring stuff like Costco runs, random sporting events, assorted kid birthday parties, and Drop Dead Diva marathons on Netflix (oh Drop Dead Diva, how did I only just now discover how completely awesome you are?).
So I brought the beach to us. No mess, no sandy feet, and no bird poop.(and it totally rained this entire weekend anyway.)
The Ingredients.serves 6

there's no half-and-half in this picture. I didn't buy it yet!

1/2 pound bacon, cooked and diced1 (6.5-ounce) can minced clams, drained5 small red potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks1 onion, peeled and diced1 cup sliced celery2 garlic cloves, chopped2 teaspoons dried thyme1 teaspoon kosher salt1/2 teaspoon black pepper4 cups chicken broth2 cups half-and-half (or you could use heavy cream)1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (to add later)
optional: bread bowls for serving. If you're gluten free, I've made them myself by using boxed bread mix, then plopping 4 round dough blobs on a piece of parchment paper--they bake right up, and are perfect!
The Directions.
Use a 4-quart slow cooker. Brown the bacon on the stovetop, and drain the accumulated grease (I saved bacon from breakfast-- about 6 4 slices (I accidentally ate a few...)Put the bacon into your crockpot, and add clams. Add all the vegetables and spices and pour in the broth. Cover, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or until the onion is translucent and the potatoes squish easily with a fork.Use a hand-held stick blender and pulse a few times to naturally thicken the soup. Stir in half and half and shredded cheese. Ladle into wide-mouthed bowls or bread bowls.
The Verdict.
This is an awesome chowder. The canned clams really do a great job of flavoring the broth and the soup, and are terribly inexpensive, and will keep in the pantry for a long time. They're a great canned item to keep on hand. My kids lapped up their servings and played with their new art supplies. 
While I cried. Because of Drop Dead Diva.
other stuff you might like:fish chowdercanned soup in the Little DipperCrab and Corn Soup Kiwi Crate Art Box ReviewTweetAdd this recipe to ZipList!