Cream of Potato Leek Soup (DF/GF)

I just discovered the goodness of coconut milk in a dairy-free diet.  I've so missed cream soups but after being introduced to coconut milk, there will be an abundance of uses for such a versatile (and healthy) substitute in this kitchen!

Here's the recipe I threw together for dinner the other day; very easy to make.  Children all loved it and, as an added bonus, it was the perfect texture for baby to enjoy! 

Cream of Potato Leek Soup (dairy-free, gluten free)

5lbs Potatoes (peeled/quartered)
2-3 Leeks (sliced thinly up through bottom quarter-ish of greenery)
1 pkg Applegate Farms turkey bacon (no nitrates, antibiotics, etc.)
1 can Coconut Milk
1 tsp Curry powder (season to taste)
1 tsp Cumin powder (season to taste)
1 tsp Salt (adjust to taste)
Water

Place quartered potatos into stock pot with enough water to cover them.  Cook on medium heat until soft.  Don't drain them.

Lightly saute leeks in coconut oil or olive oil about 5-8 minutes.  Remove from pan & set aside.

Cook bacon in same pan.  When not-too-crispy but cooked through, remove from pan and set aside to cool.  When cool, break it into little pieces.

Blend together (our handheld immersion blender works great with soups): cooked potatoes, water potatoes were cooked in, sauteed leeks, salt and crumbled bacon.  Once everything is blended together, add in the can of coconut milk, curry and cumin.  At this point, add as much water as you need to bring it to the consistency you want your soup to be.  I think I added about 1-1/2 to 2 cups of water. 

Keep in mind that this soup will thicken up overnight if you aren't serving this all at once.  I just added more water the next day when heated up for lunch.

I love how creamy and filling this soup is ~ perfect for cold days!

Laundry or...

There are 3 baskets of laundry and a 4th load of clean towels piled high on my couch; all waiting to be folded.  That doesn't include the 5th load currently in the dryer...or the load waiting to be washed. *sigh*

Why am I typing and not folding?  It's a much-prefered job to snuggle a baby.  The laundry fairy will have to appear later.

I did (amazingly) bake Banana Bread and create a delicious Potato Leek Cream Soup for dinner tonight.  A busy mom can only get so much done in a day, especially with a new crawler on the loose.

Enjoying Our Backyard Rink

It's freezing here but you would never know it... 

What a fun way to spend a January day in our own backyard!

Dedicated Hockey Dad

Our children have a fabulous father.  In temperatures with a windchill of -32 degrees, he is out there, in the backyard, flooding a backyard rink.  It took less than a week to get it up and running; no small feat, considering there was no snow 3 weeks ago and his base layer was basically grass. 

I've come to accept the ugly rolled-up waterhose housed in our kitchen.  For obvious reasons, you just can't leave a frequently used waterhose in an unheated garage.  It's one special Daddy who will stand outdoors in sub-zero temps, layering water as it freezes, to make sure his children can skate to their hearts' content.



**ETA: Our 8yo saw me taking this picture and asked, "Mommy, why are you selling our boots?"  I had to laugh!  I guess he assumed I was taking pictures for eBay, Craiglist, etc.  I reassured him that we wouldn't be selling their boots! :)

Adventures in Odyssey

Our children love stories - reading, being read to, creating stories, audio books, radio dramas.

Adventures in Odyssey, a radio drama produced by Focus on the Family, is a definate favourite in our household.  Even now, we're all listening to CD #30...and all 4 children are so attentive, quiet, and still.  Ahh!  What a relaxing way to spend the evening. :)

Listen daily online or on your local Christian radio station.  You'll grow to love the characters!

I searched around for the best possible price on the Adventures in Odyssey CD's and found it at Library and Educational Services, based out of Berrien Springs, MI.  ($12.99ea if you purchase min. 15 CDs)  As per their website, "As a wholesale company we serve resellers, educators, librarians, and home educators, as well as church leaders such as pastors or directors of children's ministries. "

A homeschooling family, we have appreciated the wide variety of resources that LES offers.  If you register with LES emails, you will be happy to hear about $2.99 shipping specials and additional %-off promotions.

Our Story Hour

Every letter. Every journal.
Every blog. Every activity.
Every day. Everywhere.
Everybody... has a story.
This is ours.

Delighted to have you read along with us.