WILD RICE AND SAUSAGE CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• 1. Cook rice according to package directions but omit any oil or fat additions. Simply add whatever water is directed. Set aside. I usually do the microwave instructions and leave it in there until I'm ready to add to soup.
• 2. In a heavy bottomed soup pot (same one you plan on cooking soup in), add 1 tbsp olive oil and cook sausage until no longer pink. You can leave it in links and slice into thin slices after you cook it or you can open the links and saute sausage like ground beef. I prefer the links, it helps the sausage stand out!
• 3. While sausage is cooking. Small dice onion, carrots, celery, and bell pepper and chop garlic. Set aside.
• 4. Once sausage is finished cooking, remove from pot and set aside. Add remaining olive oil and diced vegetables, chopped garlic and cumin to pot. Saute/sweat veggies until slightly softened and starting to carmelize.
• 5. While vegetables are cooking you can slice sausage into thin bite size disks about 1/4 inch thick. Add sausage back to pot with all chicken broth and frozen corn.
• 6. Simmer soup for 30 minutes.
• 7. Reduce to low and add half and half and chopped cilantro. Add as much or as little as you like just before serving is best.
• 8. This makes a thinner chowder. If you prefer a thick creamy chowder simply add a tablespoon or so of flour to vegetable mixture when it's done, right before you add broth. Stir flour to incorporate and coat mixture cooking slightly. And then continue with chicken broth and frozen corn addition from step 5. Once you add the half and half simmer for 10 minutes to thicken and go to step 6. :)