Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
     1/2  pound         bacon
   1      large         onion chopped
   2      ribs          celery peeled and
                        diced
   5      small   can   minced clams or
   1      large   can   -- (about 51-oz)
   2      teaspoons     seafood Chesapeake brand
                        bay-style seafood
                        seasoning
   1      quart         half and half -- (4 cup)
                        divided
   2      tablespoons   flour

Preparation:

The day before you wish to serve the soup, fry the bacon until crisp and remove. In bacon drippings, sauté onion, celery with leaves and potatoes for 10-15 minutes at medium heat. Add the minced clams, not clam soup but clams, with their juice. Crumble the bacon and add. Cover soup and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for several hours - up to five hours won't hurt. Cool down and place in refrigerator at night. On the day of serving, skim grease off top. Transfer soup to larger pot. Heat soup until bubbling and add the seafood seasoning. Mix 2 cups of the half and half with the flour. Add to the chowder and stir until it bubbles again. Mix in remaining half and half and simmer, stirring constantly, until soup is desired thickness. Serve hot with garlic bread and a green salad