Best Ever New England Clam Chowder

slices thick bacon, diced

butter

medium-large leeks, white and light green part only, sliced in half lengthwise, rinsed and then diced (3 cups)

medium shallot, peeled and minced (4 Tbsp.)

sweet onion, diced

medium carrots, peeled and diced (1/2-1 cup)

stalks celery, diced (1 cup)

large cloves garlic, peeled minced

dry white wine

and 1/4 Cups low fat milk (I use Straus Organic)

large bay leaves

fresh Thyme sprigs

lbs red skinned potatoes, chopped into 1” pieces

clam juice (reserved liquid from the canned clams plus 2-3 8oz bottles of clam juice to equal 6 cups total)

half and half (I use Straus Organic)

lbs chopped canned clams (I used one 3.3 lbs can Sea Watch Chopped Sea Clams and 16 ounce container of chopped sea clams from Whole Foods)

sea salt

ground black pepper

Flat leaf Italian parsley, chopped

Reserved bacon pieces

Steamed manila clams*