Bumblebee Soup - A Hearty Bacon, Black Bean and Corn Chowder

No actual bees were harmed in the making of this delicious soup. Whenever I do a recipe that's going to have a long name, like Bacon, Black Bean and Corn Chowder, I try to come up with some short name that will fit in the video's subtitle frame. This time the yellow and black highlights inspired the bumblebee moniker.

One great thing about this chowder is the thick, rich texture isn't dependent on any blender action. I always cringe when I read a recipe that has the reader pour the soup into a blender and "blend until smooth." All I see is scalding hot liquid flying out the top of the blender at 500 RPM (been there, felt that).

As you'll see, this soup is thickened with a safe, simple, and gentle mashing in the pot, with a potato masher. The other great thing with this bumblebee soup is that it tastes like it was cooked for hours, but is actually relatively quick - perfect if you're busy as a, well, you know. So, make this for your honey, and enjoy!

4 strips bacon

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 quart chicken stock

1/2 tsp chipotle pepper

1/2 tsp oregano

2 (15-oz) cans black beans

2 cups frozen corn, thawed

salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste