Fall Has Come & Gone - Winter Has Arrived

My dad recently caught some salmon.  Once he caught it he smoked it.  Smoked salmon, so yummy. With his generosity he shared two of the smaller fish with us.  I put them both in the freezer to enjoy at a later date.  "The later date" came last Friday for one of the fish.  I decided to make some salmon chowder...it was delicious.  BAP even loved it.  SSP said he did too (I don't know how he tasted the soup without taking a bite...he just dipped his crackers).

Smoked Salmon Chowder
adapted from: http://www.barefeetinthekitchen.com/2013/02/smoked-salmon-chowder-recipe.html

1/2 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
7 small-medium Yukon potatoes, peeled and diced into cubes (about 3 1/2 cups worth)
1 medium onion, diced
1 1/2 cups carrots, peeled and coined
2 T minced garlic
2 cups vegetable broth
1 1/4 t dried thyme
3 T flour
3 cups milk or half-n-half
1/2 t salt
3/4 t fresh pepper
1 1/2 cups smoked salmon, picked free of bones
1/2 t dried dill

In a large pot cook bacon.  Remove cooked bacon to another bowl. Saute onions and carrots in reserved fat.  Sprinkle with salt and 1/4 pepper. Stir in thyme, potatoes and broth.  Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender 15 minutes. Whisk together 3/4 cup milk and flour until no longer clumpy.  Pour milk mixture into pot.  Simmer again until thickened slightly.  Add the rest of the milk and remaining seasonings.  Add salmon and reserved bacon 5minutes before serving.