White Bean and Sausage Soup

I made a soup the other day based on a recipe that I found HERE.

I made adjustments based on different dietary needs of my family. For the most part we do not eat pork. (Actually I am the only one that does and it is only in the form of pepperoni occasionally on pizza.) I was also trying to use up some of the items in my pantry.

First I started by soaking the navy beans overnight. Then I placed the beans in the crock pot with some home canned spicy tomato juice. Regular tomato juice would work as well and is what I plan to use next time I make it.

While the beans were simmering in the crock pot, I browned up a packaged of Jennie O Turkey Sausage (a kielbasa style sausage) adding about 2 tbsp olive oil to do so. I cut the sausage up into quarters first. After the sausage was browned, I added it to crock pot.

Next I cut up and sauteed some celery and carrots in the same skillet that I had used for the sausage. I did add a bit more olive oil at this point. After about ten minutes of sauteing I added the celery and carrots to the crock pot.

I also added salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, and onion salt at this point. I am bad about measuring but would say about 1-2 tsp of each. At this point I let the soup cook on high in the crock pot for six hours or so. I just kept testing the beans to make sure they were done.

My family loved the soup. My boys (1.5 and 2.5) each ate two bowls of the soup.

A recap of the ingredients I used:
1 lb bag of navy beans
46 oz can of tomato juice
1 lb pkg of Jennie O Turkey sausage
2-3 tbsp olive oil
3-4 stalks of celery
1-2 medium carrots
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp onion salt
1 tsp Italian seasoning

Tater Tot Casserole

How we usually make it

1.25 lbs of ground turkey
2 cans of french style green beans
2 cans of cream of celery soup
1 bag of tater crowns (enough to cover top in a single layer)

Brown the ground turkey; remove from heat and drain. Then mix in the green beans and the cream of celery soup (straight from can DON'T follow directions on can). Place the mixture in a 9x13 pan and layer tater crowns on top. Follow directions on tater crown bag for oven temperature and add 5-10 minutes onto the cooking time or cook to tater crowns are to your desired brownness.

So a pretty simple recipe. All I am doing to change this recipe into a lactose free one is by substituting the cream of celery soup for creamed corn. I was looking at the can of creamed corn and noticed that there is no milk in the ingredient list. Who knew. I know when I think cream or creamed I think milk when it comes to food. I was excited and it got me thinking, I wonder how tater tot casserole would taste with creamed corn instead of the cream of celery soup.

It turned out wonderfully. I'm looking forward to when we make this recipe again.

So to recap here is the updated recipe

1.25 lbs of ground turkey
2 cans of french style green beans
2 cans of creamed corn
1 bag of tater crowns (enough to cover top in a single layer)

Brown the ground turkey; remove from heat and drain. Then mix in the green beans and the creamed corn. Place the mixture in a 9x13 pan and layer tater crowns on top. Follow directions on tater crown bag for oven temperature and add 5-10 minutes onto the cooking time or cook to tater crowns are to your desired brownness.

Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats

The other day, we wanted to make Crispy Rice Treats. The directions call for butter. Most butter has lactose. Well we experimented and tried peanut butter instead of the butter. They turned out fabulous. Who knew you could substitute peanut butter for butter in simple recipes like this? Well if you didn't already know, now you can say you do.

P.S. Next time we make them I'll remember to take pictures.