Salmon Chowder

• 2 (8-ounce) salmon fillets
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 pound red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 (9-ounce) package frozen corn, thawed
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 6 thick-cut bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

1. Sprinkle salmon with kosher salt and pepper; place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until desired degree of doneness. Flake fish into 1/2-inch pieces; set aside.
2. Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add flour; stir until mixture is smooth. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in chicken broth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt.
3. Add potato, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until potato is tender. Stir in corn and half-and-half. Cook 6 minutes or until heated. Add cooked salmon, stirring gently to combine. Spoon into individual bowls; top with crumbled bacon.

Cindy's Minestrone

1 medium onion

1 celery stalk
2 carrots
2 chopped garlic cloves
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 large can + two small cans chicken stock
2 cups large shell macaroni
1/2 head kale, chopped finely
2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can red kidney beans
1 can cannelloni beans
Salt and pepper
Grated mozzarella

Saute onion, garlic, celery, and carrots. Add tomatoes and spices. Cook twenty minutes. Add chopped kale. Cook a little longer. Add all ingredients to chicken stock with two cups shell macaroni. Cook for at least half an hour. Serve with grated mozzarella and garlic breadsticks. Geoff and Glo loved this. We had it for New Year's Day 2012.

(Original recipe called for escarole rather than kale, but I couldn't find any in the grocery store. Kale worked fine. It also called for not-to-be-found ditalini macaroni--but shells were great.)