Bean With Bacon Soup!

Ever had this before? To tell you the truth, I have never tasted this soup before. It is, however, the illustrator's all time favorite canned soup and guess what? He can't have it anymore - it has the dreaded wheat. So, since he decided to catch whatever funk the boys had last week (I am still believing it is a boy funk and girls can't get it - knock on wood) I decided to attempt to make something similar. I would say replicate it, but with all the MSG and other bizarre stuff made in New Jersey that makes it taste like it does, all I can really do is make a homemade version. I wanted to do something different too because we have been doing a lot of soups/stews already lately due to all the funk going around. Besides, bacon makes the boys feel better. I don't get it, but there are those of you out there that do and you are hard core with your bacon!

I figured along with the adventure in soup making, I would try out some gluten free crackers as well to go along with it.

I have caved in and finally gotten some xanthan gum. Truth be told, I have been kind of afraid of it since people either love it or hate it. So far, I am loving it!

While the crackers were really good, I am not sure if the xanthan gum made a difference or not. Jay will be the judge of that since he took them with some soup for lunch today.

Speaking of which, Jay has asked if he could try out a gluten free diet. He is having some issues that have led him to the question of wether or not gluten is a problem for him. We talk very openly here about our digestive issues and well, he is a smart cookie. He is identical to his father and he worries that he will end up with "the Celiac" as the illustrator refers to it. No, we are not going to be strict about this with him, since he has not been tested. He is the one that asked to try it and I told him that I would help him with it. He does need to be tested, but he is deathly afraid of needles and honestly, if this helps for now, I don't see a need in causing him more upset with invasive procedures right now. If any of you out there with gluten intolerance want to share your symptoms or your thoughts on kids and testing, please do. Since the blood test is so iffy, I would NOT put him through that right now. He just can't take it. Now...soup!

Bean with Bacon Soup

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 medium carrots, peeled and diced

6 cups cooked navy beans (or other white bean), I used home cooked, so rinse them if you use canned

1/3 cup organic ketchup

4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

1 tsp salt

12 oz. brown sugar bacon (or tempeh bacon), cooked until extra crispy and chopped fine

Sautee the onion, garlic and carrot until the onion is translucent (I do this in a little bit of water, you could use a tsp of oil too). Next add the beans through salt and cook for 30 minutes or until the carrots are cooked through. In the very end, stir in chopped bacon, but leave a little for garnish on top.

Next time I might add a little liquid smoke. I didn't do it this time because it can be over kill in some things, but I think it could use just a little, per the illustrator's suggestion.

In other events of the weekend, guess what arrived in the mail...ants!

I realized what a girl I am, when these came into my kitchen. Confined or not, at no point are ants welcome here, but...

the boys spent hours watching them make this their home. I even shared a little carrot with them.

I think this is the first time in months we had their undivided attention. The illustrator read us all about what they eat, what they do and how they work. Ants are actually quite incredible and fascinating. These are all females and they are all workers. Hopefully they all stay in there!

Despite the sickness that is going around and the over all stress of life, I am going to make this a good week!  I hope everyone else has a great one too!