Sausage and Potato Soup

In the wintertime, when the cold is biting at my toes, all I want to eat is a good hearty soup. This is a great soup that everyone loves for a variety of reasons. It is low fat, gluten free and so easy to make. These  are ingredients I have in the house most of the time, so it is also a good dinner for those nights when I just don't know what to make. Traditionally, this would be a high fat soup, but it doesn't have to be. I use skim milk and turkey sausage to keep it healthy. Plus, the turkey sausage is usually less expensive when you buy it in the tube. I know - tube sausage? Really? Why, yes! It is a great price (about $1.50 a pound) and about 50% the fat of pork. What's not to love? To find it, look in the frozen food section, not the fresh meat section.

A side note: I also buy ground turkey in the tube for only $1 a tube, which contains a pound of ground meat. Not only is it also half the fat of ground beef, it is also easy to store in the freezer since it is contained in a tube. 

Makes 8 to 10 servings (freezes well to keep for another cold winter day)

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Cost: about $4.50 or $0.45 to $0.56 a serving

1 lb ground turkey sausage

5 red potatoes, diced with the skin on

1 onion, chopped

4 stalks of celery, chopped

1 small can of 2% evaporated milk

1/2 cup of skim milk

3 cloves of garlic

5 cups of water

1 tablespoon of butter

salt and pepper to taste

In a large stock pot, melt butter and add onion and sausage. Cook over medium heat. When the sausage is mostly cooked, add the celery and garlic. Cook until the onion and celery is caramelized. Add the water and potatoes and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Add milk and evaporated milk. Salt and pepper to taste.

I sometimes add garlic salt instead of regular salt.