Gluten Free Creamy Tomato Soup (crock pot all day!)

This soup is really good for a cold winter day with a grilled cheese, or cute to take to a neighbor with some basil flat bread, or just a quick lunch warmed in the microwave.  It's not JUST tomatoes but also has other veggies for greater health benefits.  Let's get started!

This crisp bread is NOT gluten free, but I really like the glutino vegetable crackers for G free.

Here is what you need:  2 - 14 oz diced tomatoes, 1 cup diced celery, 1 cup diced carrots, 1 cup diced onion, 1 tsp oregano, 4 cups chicken broth, 1/2 cup gluten free all purpose flour (or regular if you are not going GF), 1/2 cup Parmesan, 1/4 cup butter, 1 pint half and half, 1 tsp salt, 
and pepper to taste

First dice up your carrots, onions, celery.  Put it all in your crock pot with the canned tomatoes and oregano; then put your temp on medium for 4-6 hours.  It will not hurt to have it on longer! 

I don't like this soup too chunky, so I take my hand mixer and give it a good go until it is simply the consistency I want. You can leave it chunky or put it in your blender if you don't have a hand blender. Your choice completely! 

About 30 minutes before serving melt your butter in a medium sized pan, add chicken broth, and flour keeping your temperature at a MEDIUM heat. You do NOT want to scorch the bottom or BOIL! 

 

SLOWLY add your pint of half and    half, while constantly whisking.

 Add your salt & pepper to taste, and Parmesan, then continue to whisk on a medium heat until thickened.  Be patient.  You don't want it gravy thick, but thicker than water for certain! 

 As it begins to thicken add a few cups of your soup to the pot.  You need to do this because I promise your half and half will begin to scorch on it's own. Heat, NOT BOIL, and add back to your crock pot.

This is such an easy and great home made soup!  Most of it you cook alone all day, and then it is an easy and quick completion when you get home.  I ate mine with gluten free vegetable crackers; but the boys had big fat grilled cheeses with 5 different cheeses.  

Sarcasm Note: ** These sandwiches are cheddar, American, pepper jack, cream cheese, and Colby grilled... you know...LOW FAT.

Gluten Free Potatoes and Sausage

As children our menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it!  I have made things in the past, ok the present as well, that my family is not crazy about.  (esp since I have begun learning to cook Gluten Free) But you are going to at least give it a shot before you complain at my table.  This recipe is just 'naturally' gluten free, and by that I mean you don't have to buy special flours, gums, oats ect.  So meat & potatoes is definitely a TAKE IT meal for my boys! 

 Here is what you need:  2 Tablespoons olive oil, little gold potatoes, sausage of your choice, red pepper, green onion, salt, pepper, 1 cup water, & rosemary or thyme. (If you don't have one or the other, you meal is going to be fine without it)

 Just to speed things along, I wash the amount of potatoes my family will eat and place them in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes, turn and cook another 1 1/2 minutes on the other side while I am preparing the other ingredients.

  

While your potatoes are in the microwave, cut your sausage, red bell pepper and onions.   I'd like to tell you an amount, but each simple ingredient is up to you and how many you are feeding and how much they like of one thing.    

When your potatoes are finished, place your 2 Tablespoons of olive oil in a pan on a medium heat.  Dice your potatoes and place them along with the sausage in your pan.  Add I cup of water for the potatoes and sausage to steam.

Add salt and pepper to your liking, veggies on top, toss and cover.  Turn heat down to medium low and let steam until potatoes are tender.  Remove from burner, top with rosemary and serve.  I made a pan of gluten free cornbread to go along with this nice winter meal. 

So...isn't it pretty? My son devoured it, and when I found his plate in the sink it was covered in green onions and red bell pepper.  At least he didn't complain and chose his own method of "take it AND leave it".