Title: Mct's Conch Chowder
Categories: Soup Sanibel Clams Potato
Yield: 1 Servings

2	lg	Onions, diced
1		Bell pepper, diced
2	lg	Potatoes, peeled & cubed
6	oz	Bacon, cut in 1/4" dice
1		15 oz. can tomato puree
1		8 oz. bottle clam juice
1		8 oz. can diced tomatoes in juice
2	lb	Conch or clams, diced (see note)
1	tb	Salt
1	tb	Thyme, use fresh if available
2	ts	Black pepper
1		Bay leaf, crushed
2	oz	Hot sauce or salsa (see note)
1		Jalapeno pepper, finely diced.

Saute bacon until soft-cooked; add green peppers and onion to skillet and saute to al dente stage. Place in a large pot and add tomato puree, diced tomatoes, clam juice, salt, pepper, bay leaf, thyme, potatoes, jalapeno, hot sauce, and conch. Bring to a low boil for 15 minutes, then simmer for 1 hour. To hold until serving time, cool to room temp- erature and refrigerate.

NOTE: At McT's the diced conch meat is marinated overnight in papaya juice to tenderize it. The papaya juice can be rinsed off with a little left in to give a slight sweet flavor to the chowder. NOTE: The resaurant uses Pico Pica hot sauce, usually only available to the trade, but La Victoria hot salsa, which is more available, may be substituted, Buchholz says.

From McT's Shrimp House and Tavern, 1523 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island, FL. General Manager Ron Buchholz figured out a home-size version of McT's Conch Chowder. Recipe supplied by Lillian Austin, former Food Editor of the Ft. Myers News Press from a cookbook she had.

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