Allergy-Friendly Potato, Leek and Broccoli Summer Soup

Summer may not have officially started yet, but it's blazing hot here. It sure feels like summer!

When it's hot out I like cold food. My mom used to make vichyssoise (a cold potato and leek soup) in the summer when I was a kid and I have always loved it, so I decided to make a version with broccoli stems. The potatoes make a great, "creamy" soup without any milk or cream.

Cody loves broccoli. And by that I mean he could eat broccoli all day every day. If I offer him any other food and broccoli he will always choose broccoli. I call him the broccoli monster! Anyway, I end up with a lot of broccoli stems. I hate to throw them away, so I often use them in soups, or chop them up and use them in stir fry. 

This soup can also be served hot if you prefer.

Enjoy!

This recipe is free of the top 8 allergens (egg-free, dairy-free, wheat-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, soy-free, fish-free and shellfish-free) and vegan.

Potato, leek and broccoli soup

1 large leek, white and light green parts only, rinsed well (best to immerse in water and separate layers to wash thoroughly) and chopped

1 lb. russet potatoes, peeled and chopped

3-4 broccoli stems, chopped 

5 cups vegetable broth

Salt and pepper to taste 

Fresh chives, chopped

Add all of the ingredients except chives to a large soup pot.

Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 20 min, until the vegetables are soft and falling apart.

Use and immersion blender, or transfer to a blender or food processor to blend until smooth.
Adjust seasoning and garnish with chives.

Food Allergy Awareness Week: Thank you!

Because of the nature of food allergies we often have to ask and rely on others to keep our kids safe.

Thank you to grandparents, siblings, family, friends, babysitters, teachers, administrators, school nurses, classmates, other parents and sometimes even strangers. We are more grateful for what you do than you know!

Also today is the Kids With Food Allergies Foundation and Peanut Free Planet Freeling Friday fundraiser. You get an allergy-friendly gift bag with your purchase and 5% goes to KWFA!

An Amazing and Talented Little Girl Raising Money for FARE

You may have heard about Fashion by Mayhem on social networking sites recently. She and her mom make beautiful dresses out of paper! You have to see them. They're amazing!

They are auctioning off some of the dresses for charity. Today they are auctioning a teal dress to raise money for FARE for Food Allergy Awareness week since Mayhem has several food allergies.

Kudos to Mayhem and her mom and dad!

Food Allergy Awareness Week: Anaphylaxis Symptoms and Treatment

Do you know how to recognize the symptoms and how to treat anaphylaxis (severe food allergy reaction)? Speed of recognition and treatment is crucial when someone is having a severe reaction. Epinepherine is the first line of treatment. It is a common misconception that antihistamines should be given first. Antihistamines will not stop the progression of a severe allergic reaction.

This is a great, one-page document from FARE on symptoms and treatment. We keep a copy on our refrigerator.

Happy Mother's Day and It's Food Allergy Awareness Week!

I love Mother's Day and I hope all of you wonderful moms had a great day yesterday!
Below are the two reason's I celebrated: my mom and Cody.

Did you know that this week is Food Allergy Awareness Week?

Be sure to visit FARE's Food Allergy Awareness Week page on their website. They have all kinds of great resources including this infographic on food allergies in the U.S.

Happy Anniversary to Cooking for Cody!

Today is the one year anniversary of Cooking for Cody.  I can't believe it's been a year already!

Thank you all for reading. We hope we have been able to help, educate, provide a good recipe, or even the knowledge that you're not alone.

I love this blog. I love writing it even when it keeps me up late at night. It has been really rewarding! 

Here are some of my favorite posts from the last year:

Hello!

My first post will always hold a special place in my heart.

Cody has since tested out of a few of the allergies, but the rest holds true.

Grandma's Allergy-Friendly Tortillas

I just made these last night for Cinco de Mayo. We all love them and they remind me of my sweet grandma.

Allergy-Friendly Sweet Potato Bread

This is the first thing I tried baking for Cody and I make a loaf every couple of weeks. I was struggling to figure out how to get Cody to eat anything of substance other than vegetables and oat milk. Those just weren't enough. He loved sweet potatoes, so I thought I would try them in a bread. It worked!

Allergy-Friendly Smoothie

Cody and I make a smoothie that we share almost every day. It's one of my favorite parts of the day. These are so good and still one of the only ways I can get Cody to have fruit. If I forget an ingredient Cody reminds me. He's quite a smoothie maker!

Cheeseless, Allergy-Friendly Lasagna

This is one if my favorites. I think it tastes really good even if Cody still won't try pasta!

Allergy-Friendly Blueberry Waffles

This is another one of the first things I tried. I love that I can make big batches to freeze for an easy breakfast that I can just heat up in the toaster. I don't make the mini-waffles anymore. Cody's appetite outgrew those!

The Allergy-Friendly Icing on the Birthday Cupcake

Birthdays are a big deal for kids, but they can also be difficult for kids with food allergies. I was happy to find and successfully make delicious recipes for cake and icing. Now I have something I can always make for Cody on his birthday and if I have to send him with a safe treat to eat when he attends other kids' birthday parties. And I love the icing recipe. I use it all the time.

Cody didn't like the cupcakes then, but he's a big fan now!

And finally my personal favorite, 

Allergy-Friendly Chocolate Chip Cookies

He loves them. We love them and I love that I can make them for him.

Cody is doing great and eating healthy, nutritious, well-balanced food. He also gets to have fun treats which I think is also important. He has become a very good little kitchen helper. It makes me happy that he is learning about cooking early and enjoying the process of making our own food since that will be very important for him.

Here's to another year of fun, safe, good food and, of course, the occasional mishap and recipe that turns out awful. I haven't told you all about the gnocchi yet. So bad we ordered take out! :) It happens.