I used Elise Bauer’s recipe at Simply Recipes, which makes a great foundation for improvisation. I also read a few of Ina Garten’s chowder recipes (yum!) which led me down the rich-and-creamy path with no argument. Combining them resulted in a meal both sumptuous and satisfying. Ahhh.
Second, consider the creaminess factor mentioned above. I used a combo of whole milk and cream. (Leftovers in the fridge had to be used up.) Extremely delish but way too rich and thick to eat more than a small portion. Next time I will thin it out by using 1% milk and just a dollop of cream. (Some richness is essential.) Half and half, chicken broth, or water will work too, so you decide where your dairy-richness happy place resides.
Instead I’ll give you the gift of Frank Zappa’s Hot Rats album from way back in 1969. The band is tight, swinging in a righteous jazzy fashion and rocking hard too. And Frank is his usual crazy, thoughtful, way-ahead-of-his-time self. There’s a song about soup and possibly a sly political reference. Enjoy!