Fall Recipe: Smoked Sausage Chowder

Last Tuesday, the kids got a nasty cold. By Friday, Mark and I had it too. It is STILL hanging on!
So, on Saturday, when we were supposed to be at a family birthday party for dinner, we (I) had to come up with a plan.
Sure we could have ordered out since we were all sick, but that is not what we wanted.

Sick = soup

So, I searched through the freezer and refrigerator to see what I could come up with.
Chicken noodle or any derivation was out of the question because I had very little chicken, no celery, no carrots, etc.
The following recipe is what I came up with and I'm posting it because it turned out really good.
If you try it and don't think it is really good, then please chalk it up to the fact that I was sick.

Thank you!

Smoked Sausage Chowder

3 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1 large onion, chopped (I used red onion)
2 red bell peppers, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large sweet potato (about 3/4 lb.), cut into bite sized pieces
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper (or to taste)
1 can cream corn (or you put regular corn in the food processor)
1 can whole kernel corn (or frozen)
1 lb. smoked sausage, cut into bite sized pieces
1/3 cup half and half or cream
1/2 milk
salt to taste

1. In a dutch oven (or whatever you have), melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, pepper and garlic and saute until tender. Add flour, stirring constantly, until a roux forms. (If you don't know what that is, just stir until the flour is well mixed into the butter and vegetables and begins to slightly turn darker...like beige.)
2. Add chicken broth and scrape up bits from bottom of pot. Add sweet potato, cumin, pepper and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender.
3. Uncover, increase heat to medium low, add sausage, corns, cream and milk. Simmer for 20 - 30 minutes more. Add salt to taste.
4. Serve with a nice, crusty bread. Mmmmm....enjoy!

(Serves 6)

What we liked most about this was the contrast of the smoky sausage and cumin with the sweetness of the corn and sweet potato. The red pepper and thyme added were great compliments to these flavors. And best of all was that it was colorful and pretty. Remember, the eyes "eat" first!