A Salad in Disguise!

After last weeks success with Heck sausages ( http://heckfood.co.uk/sausages/) we quickly defrosted another pack! This time we went for the "Family Favourite" pork sausages.

They were dunked in batter (care of Glutafin white mix) and turned into Toad in the Hole! (I promise there are sausages in there...really!!).

We liked the pork sausages but not as much as the fancy chorizo ones mentioned on last weeks blog! Nevertheless, they did a great job being the "toads" in our Monday night dinner!

Continuing on the sausage theme (why not eh?!) Dale cooked up a storm at our church BBQ last night.  As any Coeliac will tell you, the thought of a BBQ send shivers my spine.....sausages / burgers...prob not GF.....burger buns/ hot dog rolls...not GF....mega cross contamination issues.....arghhhh! So the best thing to do is to put a Coeliac and her husband in charge (ok, mainly the husband...but I like to sound important!) My Black Farmer sausages (http://www.theblackfarmer.com) were cooked first, my Sainsbury's FreeFrom baguette was cut first (and far away from any of the evil GF white rolls!!), Sainsbury's cheese slices, fried onions and Heinz Ketchup......Yey! BBQ success...

(My ketchup exploded by the way....don't normally go quite as mad as this!!) and the best thing was....some regular "gluten eaters" ate the rest of the Black Farmer sausages and never knew the difference......in fact there were several comments about how nice they were!

So, I had a weird flavour combo yesterday and I thought I'd share it with you! I met some friends for lucnch at Pizza Express and was delighted to see that one of their "specials" on the Summer Menu was a GF Summer Salad. Happy to try something new I decided to give it a go.

An innocent looking salad right? BUT, look a little closer...yes....that's right.....you really can see blueberries and strawberries hiding inbetween chunks of chicken and goats cheese! I'm not entirely sure my salad knew what it was! Was it my main course or my pudding....or was it like a "2 in 1 combo" a bit like " Wash and Go" shampoo?! The verdict.....well....it wasn't unpleasant and at times I really did think I might be enjoying it! However, I'm not entirely convinced! Although, I think Pizza Express deserve a bit pat on the back for adding new (albeit slightly odd) dishes to their menu!

I also, couldn't quite make my mind up about these...

I must confess I'm not a huge "cake mix" fan (ooo hark at me, you'd think I was some master baker or something!) I can't help thinking that generally they are a lot of money when you already have all the ingredients sitting in your cupboards! Nevertheless, as a sucker for something new so I thought I have a go!

Looking at the instructions I was already slightly annoyed! Call me old fashioned but butter should be measured in grams right?! Not spoons!! And milk......millilitres yeah?! I don't do " cups" I'm afraid! So, after some quick online conversions I was good to go!

All was going swimmingly until I dared to lick the bowl....bluergh!! Surely, the whole joy of cake baking is licking the bowl / spoon but this spoon licking experience just left me disappointed....not nice....I'm warning you now so don't try it!

Anyway...ta daaaaaaa!

I left them in a few mins longer as they weren't browning amd anaemic muffins don't really float my boat. Keen to taste (especially after my bowl licking!), I was pleasantly surprised! I added the chocolate chips myself and I'm glad I did as they wouldn't have been very sweet without them. Infact, if I made them again I would probably add something sweeter like raisins or honey / syrup! They have quite a chewy texture, which isn't unpleasant! Dale and I are happily muching our way through the batch. The packet also suggests the mix can be used for scones and I can't help thinking that the texture would better suited for that purpose.

Well, sad times....this is a sad, sad week as the summer hols are nearly over and the new term is about to begin. So, it is with a slightly heavy heart that a wish you all a lovely week and if I survive the start of term I will see you all next week! Xx (@lizprice79)

Oh 'eck!

Eeeee by gum and 'ecky thump I've had a reeeet bobby dazzler of a week tryin' out some more of me goodies from t'allergy show! Ok, ok enough of the fake Yorkshire accent, I give up.... my Bradford born mother will dis own me if I carry on BUT I just couldn't help myself when my first GF delight of the week goes to Heck sausages (http://heckfood.co.uk/sausages/).... Pin back your lug 'oles cos there's nowt wrong with these little beauties.....oh Heck, I can't stop!!

I bought some regular pork sausages as well as these smoky chorizo style and put them straight in the freezer to be enjoyed another day! Dale being Dale he decided that these were too good to go to bangers and mash soooo he popped them straight out of their skins and rustled up this...

Wow, it was delicious! I have to give Dale a bit of credit for the deliciousness but Heck have to have a large sausage sized chuck of the praise too! (Glutafin pasta by the way!) Great, tasty, GF sausages....can't wait for "Heck round 2" tomorrow when we will be trialling the traditional pork sausages in my fave...toad in the whole! Mmmmmm!

I was over the moon to receive a little box of Udi's (http://udisglutenfree.co.uk) goodies in the post this week! Surprise GF foodie gifts are always the best! I said the other week that I was thrilled to see Udi's expanding their range here in the UK and really enjoyed the Blueberry muffins I bought at the Tesco Lifestyle  Food  Fair. However, I am also partial to a good bagel, so couldn't wait to try the new seeded bagels that arrived on my doorstep this week!

Toasted seeded bagel with cheese and pickle.....ahhhh! Ok, I know there has been discussion on Twitter recently about the nutrional values of GF bread but  at 254 kcal per bagel, 1.0g of saturated fat and 2.9g of carbs which are sugars, I am happy to indulge in a little bagel happiness from time to time! I can't wait to try my other Udi's goodies and will let you know how I get on in future posts!

I am fast approaching my one year blogiversary and as I approach being 1 year old I have decided that nothing pleases me more that people / companies / brands who are openly and honestly gluten free (or any other "free from"!) It takes guts to make a stand and it takes confidence in your ability to produce good quality food that may be "free from" but you are not ashamed of! These small businesses and gutsy people need a big GF pat on the back cos it makes my life and other "free from" peoples lives a whole lot easier. So, with no more rambling I would like to say hip hip hooray to Floris Foods

No need to question what they do....there it is......GF and proud! All their items are GF, no cross contamination worries amd no worries about artificial tasting food because all their baked goods are delicious....you would never know they were GF and some items as even vegan too! I blogged about Floris' doughnuts a few moths ago.....they were ah-maze-ing! So, when Dale and I went to Broadway Market at London Fields yesterday, I was keen to see what else I could try! So for lunch, I had a spinach and feta slice.....

...followed by a cupcake...

...which really did taste as good as it looked! I also couldn't help buying a baguette....what a novelty!!

The baguette was later used for dinner! Dale waved his magic wand and voila!

Goats cheese (also bought from the market), bruschettary salady thingy! I will be returning to Floris Food very soon!

I also got to experience the marshmallow delights from The London Marshmallow Company (http://www.londonmarshmallows.co.uk) how pretty is this?!

I honestly thought it was another posh soap stall! How wrong was I?! And how excited was I when I realised I could eat it!! Wowza! It was soooo good! Zingy lemon mixed with fruity blueberry! If you thought marshmallows were those awful pink flumpy things things, think again amd head down to Broadway Market to sample these beauties!

Well, that's me done for this week! Here's to another week of glorious GF eating! Have a good one everyone x (@lizprice79)

Impressed!

I'm going to make a prompt start this week because I can't wait to tell you about Cote! Good service deserves praise but good GF service should be shouted from the rooftops! So, here I am.....shouting! I'd read other reviews of Côte (http://www.cote-restaurants.co.uk) before and knew they were all geared up for the GF people of the world, so when the opportunity arose to try them this week I jumped at the chance! I emailed the restaurant before our visit and they responded immediately with a whole GF menu attached! A whole menu!! Yes, it's true, there are choices!!! I was already impressed!

When I got to to the restaurant, I noticed the menu had the usual small print ....cooked in a kitchen where gluten is present...etc...etc but that's fairly standard these days and I felt confident they knew what they were doing, so I went forth and ate!! I ordered the haddock wrapped in bacon with pea purée and it was delicious!

I was only sorry that I was too full to try one of the many puddings on offer! I will definitely be back....and I will be having pudding!! Great service, great GF menu, great food and great to have choices! To conclude.....it was great!

I dabbled in my first bit of summer hols baking this week? Much to Dale's disgust I decided to give courgette bread a go and was pleasantly surprised! I'm still waiting for Dale to summon up the courage to try it! 

The bread was quite sweet and not at all courgettey! Another success from this GF baking book "Gluten Free Baking" by Micaeal McCamley. I particularly like this book because it is easy enough for a novice like me to follow! I also rate it because you don't need 100 different types of GF flour mixes to make the recipes, most call for general GF plain / self raising flour which is the kinda cooking language I speak!

I'm still wading my way through my Allergy & Free From Show stash! I well and truly stocked up! This week I tried the Wellaby's Chips and Dips (http://www.wellabys.com)

I love Wellaby's chips so when I saw this nifty little number I got quite excited! Chips + Red Pepper Hummus =Result! It doesn't need to be refrigerated, so it's perfect for snacking or even to have in your bag for lunch on the run.....even better for travelling! The opportunities are endless....thanks Wellaby's for a great tasting idea! These are definitely going to become regular cupboard fillers!

After discovering my love of Venice Bakery Pizza Bases (http://shop.venicebakery.co.uk) I was keen to try their flatbreads.....the perfect accompaniment to my Ilumi Cardamon Chicken (http://www.ilumiworld.com)

Just as impressed with the flatbread as the pizza bases! I used it as a naan bread which worked well but I think we cooked them too long and they were a bit crispy! They would be great topped as a mini pizza or open sandwich. I'm just going to need to buy some more to experiment!!!

Finally, I am pleased to announce that Glutafin Penne Pasta (http://www.glutafin.co.uk) makes a great substitute for macaroni in macaroni cheese! I convinced Dale to step away from the meat and whip up a delicious (and very calorific) mac n cheese!

Glutafin penne, lots of cheese, cornflour, lots of cheese, cornflakes crumbled on top and....lots of cheese!! The ultimate comfort food....mmmmmmmm!!

Well, that's me done for another week! Have a good one! (@lizprice79) x

Should Be OK?!!

So, back to earth with a bump! New York seems a dim and distant memory; the photos are in the album, the washing done and put away, holiday souvenirs have been given out and the "post hol gym routine" has started! Sooo, I could blog about the endless supplies of fruit, veg and, low fat cottage cheese and fat free yogurt that I have been gloomily munching on since my return BUT that's not my style!! So, here are a few little treats I have discovered in my moments of weakness this week!

My "I'm not eating any more cake now" got off to a good start we visited Dale's family in Wales at the weekend. I was presented with these

Yey! Well, I had gone a whole 24 hours without cake so I deserved a little treat right?! I love presents and if the present happens to be cake.....well it'd have been rude not to try one (or both!!). Udi's (http://udisglutenfree.co.uk) have extended their range recently which is very exciting! I'm a fan of their choc / toffee muffin duo that was in their initial range, so was pleased to see another option had been added! The blueberry muffins were no disappointment. Soft, moist, little bit sticky, juicy blueberries......yep, I'd reccommend them! Well done Udi's, keep the new products coming please!

Whilst in Wales Dale and I tried out the local Beefeater! I haven't been to one for years! We didn't know what they were like for GF but we were up for a challenge!

The server who met us happily produced the usual ring binder with dietary information in it.

Thank goodness for the info because he didn't have a clue! He told me that most of the meat would be ok and that the chips "should be ok"?! Makes you feel confident doesn't it!? When questioned further, it became apparent that the onion rings were fried in the same oil as the chips sooooo......chips are not ok!! I don't mind people not knowing but please don't guess! Go and ask in the kitchen to make sure  but making it up as you go along just adds to my anxiety! Anyway, armed with the trusty spreadsheet I ordered gammon, pineapple and rice. It was ok, I wouldn't rave about it but there wasn't anything terribly wrong with it either. Beefeater.....go if you're pushed for somewhere to eat BUT there are plenty of places offering better quality food, who are more knowledgeable about dietary requirements that you could go to instead!

Being on school holidays means I have finally had the time to track down the Tesco Lifestyle Food Fair! At last! I've read so much about it I was desperate to find one myself! It's a great idea and just a shame it's not at all Tesco stores. However, if you haven't been yet, you have until the end of August to have a look! This can only be a good thing and something worth supporting. Surely, if it proves popular they will do it again or even bring in the more successful brands in to store more regularly!

Here is Dale pondering what to buy (or possible just wishing I'd hurry up and choose what I want!!). I bought a few bits to try.....most of which are still lurking in my cupboard for another day. However, I did buy Natures Store Coconut Bars

They have an unusual consistency but it's not unpleasant! Tasty....if you like coconut and a nice change from the usual cereal bars. I would definitely buy them again! 

Well, as I dumped the cake (apart from the muffins!), for rice cakes I thought I'd try these jazzier versions I found in Sainsburys! 

I have blogged about Kallo before but was pleased to stumble across some new flavours while doing my weekly shop! They don't state "gluten free" but the ingredients are fine and they only say "made in a factory that handles soya and sesame seeds". Based on this, I was happy to go forth and munch! The caramel ones are great for my sweet tooth! They may well be too sweet for some but when I get a chocolate craving these are a pretty good substitute. (Ok, who am I kidding, it's no substitute for chocolate but if I keep telling myself it is, maybe I'll start believing it?!) The paprika rice cakes are great for lunch, just a litle more pizazz than a plain rice cake!

Well, I'm off before I turn into a rice cake! Have a great week everyone! (@lizprice79) xx