Packed with colorful vegetables and white beans for protein, this is not your ordinary creamy corn chowder. Soups like this one are a great way to make use of all that great summer produce. Smarts: Soups make great freezer meals. If you're planning to freeze this one, freeze it without the cream which can change texture and clump in the freezer.
Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bacon and saute until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to set bacon out on a paper towel-lined plate.
Drain all but 1 Tbsp / 15 mL (for 4 servings; adjust if customizing) of bacon grease from the pan.
To remaining bacon grease in the pan, add zucchini and saute for 2 minutes to get it started cooking. Add spice blend and garlic and saute until fragrant, ~1 minute.
Add in stock and sweet potatoes. Bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
When chowder is boiling, reduce heat to a low simmer and cover with a lid. Simmer, covered, until sweet potatoes are tender, ~15 minutes.
When potatoes are tender, remove lid and stir in cream, beans, and corn. Simmer gently for a few more minutes to heat everything through. Season with some salt and pepper.
Ladle soup into bowls. Top with bacon, chives, and cheese. You can serve some tortilla chips on the side of the chowder or crumble them over top for some more texture.