Carol's Easy, Creamy Clam Chowder

Nutrition facts for 4 servings

Ingredients:

3 (6.5-ounce) cans chopped clams
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 medium onion, chopped fine
3 strips bacon, chopped
2 tablespoons flour, seasoned with 1 or 2 pinches salt and pepper
3 cups half-and-half
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 small bay leaf

Optional: Chopped parsley or chives for garnish

Carol's Szechuan Noodles

Makes 4 main dish or 6 side dish servings. Calories set to 6 side dish servings

Ingredients:

8 oz vermicelli, broken in half
3 T rice vinegar
3 T soy sauce
2 T vegetable oil, canola oil, sunflower oil (not olive oil)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 to 2 t minced fresh ginger
1 t dark sesame oil
1/2 t red pepper flakes, or to taste
1/2 red bell pepper, julienned, or more or less as desired
1/2 C chopped cilantro

Garnish: 1 or 2 green onions, sliced

Carol's Cabbage with Bacon, Onion, and Apple

This was one of those recipes that came about because Larry bought a small, half-cabbage at the market with no thought of what we might do with it. So I came up with this:

Nutrition facts for 6 servings

Ingredients:

3 slices bacon, chopped

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 apple, unpeeled, chopped (see Note)

1/2 small or medium cabbage, shredded

1/4 to 1/2 cup water

Salt to taste (optional)