Iowa Corn Chowder

My great-grandma Peterson settled in Iowa in the early 1920s on a farm in Chariton, Iowa. As one can imagine, there were fields and fields of corn. Among other tasty dishes, Iowa Corn Chowder was a staple in the Peterson household.

She had a knack for cooking. She could throw something together with the limited number of ingredients available to her at the time. She was known for her on-the-fly cooking and making something from nothing. She made do with what she had. Over the years, I have come to know her special sugar cookies, her chocolate cakes, her savory dishes, and her “Baking Powder Biscuits.” Those recipes she magically pulled out of thin air were passed down from generation to generation. Granted, I realize there are 101 variations of corn chowder out there, but I guess I prefer the handy work of my great-grandma.

Ingredients

3 slices bacon- diced

4 cups corn

1 lb chicken breast cut into cubes

2 cups diced potatoes

3/4 cups onion

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cups celery

1/2 tsp pepper

4 cups chicken broth

2 tbsp parsley

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

1. Cook bacon until crisp.

2. Remove and pour off all grease except 2 tbsp.

3. Add the chicken, onion, and celery. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes until chicken is tender.

4. Combine 1 cup of chicken broth and 2 cups of corn in a blender until smooth.

5. Stir in pureed corn to the chicken, onion, and celery mixture.

6. Add corn kernels, potatoes, remaining chicken broth and salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes.

7. Stir in heavy whipping cream, parsley, and pepper. Simmer for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.

8. Stir in bacon.

9. Garnish with cheese and green onions if desired.

There are some variations that I have played around with to cater to my family’s diverse tastes. I have added carrots, extra bacon, and extra potatoes to make it a bit more hearty. I have tried adding peppers per my family’s request, but I personally do not fancy peppers. In the end, I find my way back to the original recipe. I typically serve the chowder with biscuits or french bread and enjoy.