Lisa's Creamy Clam Chowder

Ingredients (20)

• + 3 slices bacon, chopped add to pantry
• + ½ cup butter add to pantry
• ✓ 4 potatoes, chopped into small chunks
• + 2 stalks celery, finely chopped add to pantry
• + 2 small carrots, finely chopped add to pantry
• + 1 yellow onion, chopped add to pantry
• ✓ salt and ground black pepper to taste
• + salt and ground black pepper to taste add to pantry
• + 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour add to pantry
• + 3 cups milk add to pantry
• + 2 (8 ounce) bottles clam juice add to pantry
• + 2 (6.5 ounce) cans chopped clams add to pantry
• + 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice add to pantry
• + ½ teaspoon thyme, or to taste add to pantry
• + 1 dash cayenne pepper add to pantry
• + 1 pinch garlic salt add to pantry
• + 1 pinch onion powder add to pantry
• ✓ 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• + 1 teaspoon cornstarch, or as needed add to pantry
• + 1 tablespoon water, or as needed add to pantry