Loaded Baked Potato Chowder

I suppose I should start by saying that this is what we made at my pampered chef party so that is why I chose it.  There is quite a bit of microwaving involved and it killed my microwave during the show.  Oops!    It was very good though and I had bought enough stuff to make the recipe twice over, so I made it again about a week later after we bought a new microwave. 

I tried adding all the different optional toppings, I much preferred the bacon (I used turkey bacon) and sour cream version, but the broccoli is certainly more filling. 

Everyone at the show seemed to enjoy the chowder, even though the potatoes were not quite as cooked as they should have been, I can only imagine how much more then would like it if they had been cooked as well as they should have been.  Yummy!

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Loaded Baked Potato Chowder

Pampered Chef Recipe

Ingredients:

3 large baking potatoes (about 2½ lbs/1.1 kg)

3½ cups (875 mL) milk, divided

4 oz (125 g) cream cheese, softened

2 tbsp (30 mL) butter
2-3 green onions with tops
(¼ cup/50 mL sliced)
4 oz (125 g) sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1½ tsp (7 mL) salt
½ tsp (2 mL) coarsely ground black pepper
Optional toppings such as chopped cooked bacon, sour cream or steamed broccoli florets

Slice potatoes in half lengthwise with Santoku Knife; place in Deep Covered Baker. Pour ½ cup (125 mL) of the milk over potatoes. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 11 minutes. Remove baker from microwave. Move center potatoes to ends of baker and outer potatoes to center. Cover; microwave on HIGH 8-11 minutes or until potatoes are easily pierced with a fork. Remove baker from microwave. Coarsely mash potatoes with Mix ‘N Chop.

Meanwhile, whisk cream cheese until smooth in Classic Batter Bowl. Slowly add remaining 3 cups (750 mL) milk, whisking until smooth. Add cream cheese mixture and butter to baker. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 3-5 minutes or until mixture is hot. Slice green onions with Chef’s Knife.

Carefully remove baker from microwave. Grate cheddar cheese over chowder using Rotary Grater; add green onions, salt and black pepper, and mix using Small Mix ‘N Scraper® until cheese is melted. Serve with toppings, if desired.

Yield: 6 servings (8 cups/2 L)

Cook’s Tip: For a lighter version, omit butter. Substitute fat-free (skim) milk, reduced-fat (Neufchâtel) cheese and light cheddar for the 2% milk and full-fat cheeses.