A Great Recipe - in the making

I love my mom’s Corn Chowder recipe!  It is a great winter comfort food and i have been making for years. So why not take pictures and post while I make it for the first time here in Croatia. 

The key ingredient is Bacon 

When we first got here, I tried different “types” of bacon, but none tasted like the bacon we know and love. So I gave up looking. 

Now that I think i know a few things about the many kinds of 'salted' meats here, I was determined to find something to use, may be not "American" bacon, but something close. 

So off I went to the deli counter.

Me: Dobar dan, 

Deli worker: Dobar dan 

Me: English?  (That is - do you speak any English? with a hopeful look on my face)

Dw:  Little  (This could mean she speaks excellent English or she knows a couple basic words and greeting)

Me: Looking for bacon? (Real hopeful face with a lift in my voice for bacon?)

Dw: blank look

Me: od svinje? * (from a pig?) * I sometimes translate and write down the name of things I’m looking to buy, thinking it may help me, but truly I think I make it worse! Not sure if people think I’m still speaking English or if I pronounce it so bad, they have no idea what I’m saying.    anyways...

Dw: still smiling, which encourages me to continue...

Me: umm, from pig? ham? pork? bacon? I restrain myself from oinking here!

I then point to what looks like bacon and say “looks like that”

Both: so that is what we agree on, and she starts weighing it in grams.

Me:  I can I fry it, right?

Dw: Yes

Me: Hvala 

Dw: Dovidenja, Bye 

Me: Dovidenja!  (I’m feeling pretty good, so I use the Croatian greetings I do know!)

What you will need - see photos, any questions? ask in comments:

Add butter (or PAM) to bottom of heavy pot - big enough for amount of chowder you are making. With pot on med/med low, add chopped bacon & onion to brown, stirring as needed.

While bacon & onions brown, cut up potatoes- one or two pp.

I notice many bloggers post about food. Why not; everyone can use a good recipe and I’m still very excited to have received my kitchen items and food supplies from home!

ummm

The only problem, it tasted awful, really really awful, like not edible awful! 

It was most definitely the “bacon” 

I decided to post anyway. After all the pictures came out pretty good 
and I know some of you need a good laugh 
while others of you are looking for a reason to pity me!

pit·y  [pit-ee] - noun, 

sympathetic or kindly sorrow evoked by the suffering, distress, or misfortune of another, often leading one to give relief or aid or to show mercy: 

to feel pity for Christine because she had to eat cookies for dinner!

I will let keep you posted on the bacon search. 

But for now, I"ll stick to making chicken soup. Can't go wrong with chicken! 

ĆAO! Christine
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