1/2 cup diced onion (1/4-inch dice)
1/2 cup diced leek (1/4-inch dice)
1/4 cup diced celery (1/4-inch dice)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 bay leaf
Gray salt and freshly ground pepper
3 cups Chicken Stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
1 pound russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks1-
1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh oregano
Dash Tabasco sauce
1/2 cup diced new or fingerling potatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream
For the warm clam salad
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon slivered garlic
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 pound Manila or other small clams in shells, scrubbed
Gray salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 cup packed coarsely chopped arugula or watercress
Directions Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat until hot. Add the onion, leek, celery, garlic, and bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft but not brown, about 10 minutes. Add the stock and russet potatoes, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the potatoes are very tender, about 15 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent sticking or scorching. Add the oregano.
Discard the bay leaf and puree the soup in a blender or with an immersion blender. Taste for seasoning and add the Tabasco. (The soup can be made ahead to this point and refrigerated for several days or frozen.)
Pour the soup into a large saucepan with the diced new potatoes, and slowly bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, until the potatoes are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cream, heat through, then stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Taste for seasoning. Keep warm.
At this point, make the warm clam salad: Heat the olive oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat until hot. Add the garlic and sauti briefly until light brown. Add the wine, clams, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, uncovered, shaking the pan occasionally to redistribute and turn the clams, until open and cooked, about 3 minutes. If you use clams other than Manilas, you will need to cover the pan while they cook.
Remove the opened clams to a plate with a slotted spoon. Give any clam that has not opened a firm crack with a pair of tongs or metal spoon, turn it in the liquid, and cook for another minute to see if it will open. Discard any that do not open. Return the pan to high heat and bring the liquids to a boil to reduce the cooking juices slightly. Add the parsley and arugula and stir just to wilt. Taste for seasoning, return the clams to the pan, and toss well to reheat.
P.S. I dont use Gray salt, and if you dont have some of the fancy stuff you dont have to add it.
Tripoli Server (I love the 3 tiered look, you can stick fruit, candy, etc...)
Asparagus Plate (we eat asparagus at least once a week)
and last but not least a Cupcake Tree ( I will be making fake cupcakes for display in my kitchen and when I have company I will replace them with real ones) Martha Stewart a couple of months ago made fake desserts for display, this will be my weekend project! :)
I feel better now! I'm no longer a crabie pattie! :)
Bear is now a scrawny rat. We have to keep some hair around his face because last time we shaved his whole body he was depressed for weeks. We have been shaving Velvet also, she feels better when she is shaved and it's easeir for me to keep the house clean. She sheds so badly. 
I found these 3 years ago at the spa in Las Vegas. I have made it a tradition to buy one every year. I love them because they last forever, and it's easy to find in your purse. You can also buy them online, but it's hard for me to pay shipping and handling on such a small piece. Aren't they cute? I even have one in Zebra print. 
Orange Beach, Alabama
