New England Clam Chowder

New England Clam Chowder.  I tend to like my chowder with lots of bacon, clams, and corn.  If you don't happen to like it that way, simply cut some of those ingredients out.

Ingredients:

• 8 slices bacon, diced
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 4 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
• 2 tbsp salt
• ground black pepper to taste
• 3 cups half-and-half
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 (10 ounce) cans minced clams
• 2 cans of clam juice
• 
  
• Optional- These are ingredients you can add
• Corn- About 1 can

3 garlic cloves

flour- add for texture

Directions: 

You can start this at about noon in a slow cooker and it will be done around 5.

In a skillet, fry the bacon, onions, and garlic.  I would put the garlic and onions in about 2-3 minutes before the bacon is done.  In a slow cooker add the water, potatoes, salt, pepper, half-and-half, butter, clams, clam juice, bacon, garlic and onions, and corn if you choose to.  Place the slow cooker on medium heat.  This should take about 5 hours to cook.  With an hour left in the cooking process, add about 1 tsp at a time of the flour if you wish to make the soup thicker.  Enjoy! Serve with oyster crackers.