- 4 strips smoked bacon, chopped
- 4 stalks of celery, chopped
- 1 medium white onion, chopped
- 4 potatoes, peeled, cubed and soaked in just enough water to cover
- 1.5 tablespoons flour
- 2 cans of canned clams, liquid set aside and reserved
- about 15 medium cherrystone clams, washed and soaked*
- 1 cup of skim milk (or whole)
- 1 cup half and half (or heavy cream)
- thyme (dried, about 1 tsp)
- sea salt and pepper

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* make sure you wash the shells completely. also, soak the clams for 10 minutes, then change the water and soak again until they're ready to be cooked.