Bread Bowls

Its a cold day in New York. As a matter of fact it's a great day to make a hearty vegetable soup or your favorite stew for dinner. Jazz it up and serve it to your family in crusty bread bowls. I guarantee you they will say WOW!!! You can buy the rolls at the bakery or supermarket. Its best if they sit out a day or two so they become dry and stale. You could use sourdough, rye, pumpernickel, or kaiser.It's best to fill them with a thick soup or stew. Below is a recipe for Hearty Corn Chowder. However, Vegetable Stew, Pea Soup, Beef Stew, or any other thick soup or stew will work just fine.

Hearty Corn Chowder
Ingredients
1/2 cubed ham
1 onion chopped
3 stalks celery chopped
2 pounds peeled and cubed potatoes
3 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 pounds chicken breast
4 cups of corn
3 cups milk ( skim is ok)
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper salt and pepper
6 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions
Put onion, ham, celery, chicken broth, water, and chicken (un cut) in a large pot. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
Add corn, potatoes, milk, thyme, and salt and pepper to pot.Simmer, uncovered until potatoes are soft.
Cut chicken breast into bite size pieces and return to pot.
Thicken soup with cornstarch , adding in 2 tablespoons at a time and stirring. Once soup has reached desired thickness simmer for another 5-7 minutes.