Corn and Crab Chowder

Another great recipe from Chrissy....

CORN CRAB CHOWDER


2 TBSP butter
3 cups Half & Half
2-3 Slices bacon
2 cups chicken broth
1 medium onion,
chopped 1 cup frozen home fries (cubed potatoes)
1/2 red bell pepper,
chopped 6 ounces lump crab meat
2 tsp Tabasco
1 cup frozen corn kernels
2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
 2 ribs celery chopped
2 TBSP flour
4 sprigs fresh thyme (optional)

Melt butter. Add bacon, onions, bell pepper, celery and thyme. Season with salt, pepper, hot sauce and Old Bay. Stir in flour and cook a minute or two. Whisk in half and half, then add broth. Bring soup to a simmer and then stir in potatoes. Simmer until potatoes are cooked and soup has thickened slightly--should coat the back of a spoon, about 15 minutes. Add crabmeat and corn. Cook until meat and corn is hot.