Homemade Soup

I may not be much of a cook, but I love to make homemade soup from scratch. Here's one of my new favorites I pulled from the February 2008 Real Simple magazine at the dentist's office (shhh!).

SMOKY CORN CHOWDER

8 ounces sliced bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large sweet onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped (or 2 tsp. of Tastefully Simple's Garlic Garlic)
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 10-ounce packages frozen corn
3 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup half-and-half
Kosher salt and pepper
4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced

Cook the bacon in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Spoon off and discard all but 2 tablespoons of the drippings and return the pot to medium heat. Cook the onion, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic, paprika, and red pepper and cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Stir in the corn, broth, and half-and-half and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Transfer half the soup to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the pot, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and stir to combine. Divide the soup among individual bowls and top with the scallions and reserved bacon.