MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER

I came up with this simple, delicious soup years ago when my husband and I both worked. It’s easy to dump all the ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning and come home to a prepared meal.

—MARY DIXON NORTHVILLE, MI



PREP: 10 MIN. • COOK: 8 HOURS • MAKES: 9 SERVINGS


3 celery ribs, sliced

1 large onion, chopped

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) sliced potatoes, drained

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) sliced carrots, drained

2 cans (6 1/2 ounces each) chopped clams

2 cups reduced-sodium tomato juice

1/2 cups water

1/2 cup tomato puree

1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes

1/2 teaspoons dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 bay leaf

2 whole black peppercorns

In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine all ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until vegetables are tender. Discard bay leaf and peppercorns.

PER SERVING 1 cup equals 80 cal., trace fat (trace sat. fat), 14 mg chol., 612 mg sodium, 13 g carb., 3 g fiber, 4 g pro. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 lean meat.