Stoplight Corn Chowder

This simple and tasty corn chowder is made fun with stoplight colours of red peppers, yellow corn, and green peppers.

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 cups corn
1 cup navy beans
2 vegetable bouillion squares
3 tablespoons flour
3 cups milk
1 cup water
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
Optional garnish: crushed tortilla chips, cilantro, and/or sliced green onions

In a large soup pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add pepper and onions and saute in heated oil until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in corn and beans. Crumble boullion and sprinkle flour over top of veggies and beans. Add milk and water, whisking over medium heat until chowder begins to thicken. Add cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Garnish, if desired, before serving.

I saw this chowder on the Family Kitchen blog and they had a neat idea to play Red Light, Green Light at the dinner table while eating it. When you say ‘green light’ everyone can eat, and when you say ‘red light’ everyone must stop and say something about their day or something nice about another family member. I thought that was such a nice way to make a healthy meal more fun while creating meaningful family time. Bennett is still too young to understand this game, but I figured Cole might have fun with it. He liked the idea, but every time I said green light he would immediately say red light so he wouldn’t have to eat anything. Needless to say he did not like this soup. The rest of us loved it though. It’s so easy and quick to make too! I altered the recipe a little by adding beans to give it more substance and protein, and also increased the amount of vegetables and cheese. It’s a good, thick, and hearty soup that’s perfect for a cold evening when you want something warm and comforting to stick with you.