5-6 slices bacon
1 sm. onion
2 potatoes
1 sm. bottle clam juice
1 c. water
2 c. milk
1 can minced clams
Pinch thyme
Pinch sweet basil

Brown bacon and onions. Combine remaining ingredients and simmer. add milk just before serving. Crumble 5-6 crackers in soup.

For Manhattan Clam Chowder: Substitute tomato juice for milk.