Limbo

Hey, Merry Christmas.......or is it Happy New Year.......er.....ahhhh, well it's kinda a limbo period isn't it?! Christmas overindulgence and merriment over with and now gearing up for round two later this week! Anyway, I hope you all had a fun packed, gluten free Christmas! I left you on a GF cliffhanger at the end of my last blog and I bet you've been on the edge of your seat all through Christmas just wondering how the Aero Mint Bubble cake turned out?! Well let me put you out of your misery.... Ta daaaaa...

Yep, it's meant to look like that...honestly! Soooo easy and sooooo good! Thank you very much to @bakingqueen74 (www.bakingqueen74.co.uk) for her amazing recipe. (I just replaced the flour with Doves Farm GF flour). I can't wait to try some of her other slow cooker recipes from her blog!

To be honest, I don't want to blog about Christmas too much. We all know how fab Mrs Crimbles stuffing is and Marks and Spencer's do amazing GF party food etc etc so I thought it best to stick to new stuff! 

Disaster struck when Sainsburys sold out of The Black Farmer sausages.....on a whim I braved the Waitrose pre Christmas crowds to see what I could find and I must say I was plesantly surprised!

Have you heard of The Good Little Sausages from The Good Little Company (www.goodlittlecompany.com)? No, neither had I but as well as making delicious "normal" GF sausages, they also work with Christan Aid. Therefore, for every pack you buy someone in a developing country is given the means to grow their own meal every day for 2 weeks! Worth checking out eh?! I forgot to take a photo though so you'll have to look on the website! (Sorry!! I made the website bold for you instead lol!)

I also found these

.....never heard of Musk's either (where have I been living?!) (www.musks.com). These were quickly fried up for a Christmas Eve blow out

and they certainly did the job! Good texture (fairly coarse for all you sausage connoisseurs!), quite peppery in taste! All in all, I will be visiting Waitrose again in the near future!!

You may remember a while ago I wrote about how thrilled my Mum was at the prospect of creatingher famous   trifle using Savoiardi "lady fingers" bought from Freego (www.freego.com). I can confirm the trifle was a big hit and the GF lady fingers successfully fooled all the family! Didn't crumble, didn't go soggy....everything you could hope for and more!

Ok, ok, not an appealing pic (it looked so pretty in the cut glass bowl) but I wanted you to see some of the sponge.....it's in there...trust me!!

Dale and I paid a little visit to Winterville (www.winterville.co.uk) in Victoria Park near Bethnal Green. It was awash with trendy street food stalls but sadly lacking in much (obvious) GF food. Nevertheless, I had a bowl of rather tasty veggie paella from @paellaandtapas

It was a very welcome, warm, hearty meal on a cold evening!

Buzzing from the glorious success of the Aero slow cooker cake I decided to turn my hand to the necessary, seasonal gingerbread house. I'll leave you to make your own decisions about how it went....

What WOULD Mary Berry say lol!?

Anywaaaaaaay, I wish you all a very Happy New Year and I'll see you all again in 2015!!!!!! Xx (@lizprice79)

Underlay! Underlay!

Please note, today's blog post is the punchline to the following joke, "What do you call a Mexican carpet fitter?" It is also the groan worthy, eye rolling punchline to the joke Dale proudly delivered on more than one occasion during our visit to Chiquitos (www.chiquitos.co.uk) last night! Let me set the scene....

During our "Christmas visit" to South Wales to see Dales family, our lovely niece suggested we might like to pop along to the brand new Chiquitos in Talbot Green. This served the double whammy of sampling the "Gluten Intolerant" menu and seeing our niece in action during her new job! I must admit, after mixed GF reviews on Twitter I approached with some trepidation but was up for a try!

The smiley girl at the door greeted us enthusiastically and I was impressed to see the Gluten Intolerant menus were given pride of place on the counter right next to the regular ones! I was even more excited when I opened the menu and saw I had a choice....a choice of many things....to eat!!!

Yep, that's right my anti gluten friends, all of this has been given the big GF thumbs up! Can you see why I was excited!? The small print explains that there are no separate fryers so that ruled out some items but there was still plenty to choose from! So much so, I drove everyone mad changing my mind!

I was also happy to see the small print stated that more info could be given on specific allergens
in each dish if required! (Happy new food labelling legislation!) if you squint you might make it out!!

So, here I am with GF corn tortilla fajitas and corn on the cob

.......can you sense the excitement?!

I can officially give Chiquitos a big GF hoooraaaay! I was totally impressed from start to finish. Ok, I'm a little biased on the service (lovely niece did fab!) but all staff were helpful and efficient, the menu was great, food tasty and I left completely stuffed!!

Infact the whole weekend proved to be a quite successful eating experience! Had a major "stock up session" at Tescos! They have either upped their game recently or Welsh Tesco is just better?! Either way I spent far too much and enjoyed making the most of the 3 for 2 offer on Udi's! Absolutely delighted with my Free From Christmas Tree crumpets which I am saving (like a good girl) for Christmas Day breakfast!

My mother in law also bought me some Free Fron Angel Cake slices from Tesco

They look just like the real thing don't they?! More importantly.....they taste like the real thing too! Happy days!!

My really exciting find were these

in Holland and Barrett, (www.hollandandbarrett.com) in their Christmas section. Regular readers will know I blogged about Love More (www.lovemorefoods.com) Jammy Wheels a couple of months ago. These are just as good! What a great company and what a shame they aren't as easily available as some brands. Nevertheless, I am seeing them more and more now so here's hoping they continue to grow. I'll keep voting with my mouth, I'mmore than happy to support them that way?!! ;0)

During my shopping spree in Cardiff the munchies struck! Disaster! My GF stash was foolishly left in the car and I couldn't face the Christmas queues in Starbucks. Halfheartedly, I popped into the Little Waitrose to see if I could find a rice cake/ bar of choc/ piece of fruit and stumbled upon these...

I haven't come across these before but they were exactly what I needed! (www.munchyseeds.co.uk) Kept the munchies at bay and were surprisingly filling. They not only state they are GF but also that they are Safe for Coeliacs! Marvellous! 

Look what arrived in the post today.....a little Christmas present to myself from Freego (www.freego.com) 

I LOVE this company!! If you haven't had a look at them yet what ARE you waiting for?? However, I should warn you that ordering from them is addictive and your bank balance may not thank you! I can't wait to get sampling!

Well, the Christmas hols have begun and that can only mean one thing....Dales precious kitchen / appliances are no longer safe! I, the novice baker, have sprung into action working my way through the fool proof recipes I have been collecting since the last school hols! I currently have an "Aero Mint Bubble Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake" baking, Yep you heard me right....slow cooker!! Dale has been looking at me as if I'm mad but I have faith!  Have a fab fortnight everyone and a very Happy Christmas! I'll let you know how successful my cake is next time BUT here's a sneak peak..... (@lizprice79) xx

Out and About

Dale and I seem to have been out and about rather a lot during the past fortnight! Dales passion for microbreweries (yawn!!) has led to all sorts of trips to parts of London I didn't even know existed! It comes to something when a boy from the  Welsh Valleys knows more about "The big smoke" than me (a born and bred Londoner!!)! Anyway, yesterday saw us being able to combine my love of GF food and Dales boozy interest as we took a trip to the Foodies Festival at The Old Truman Brewary, just behind Spitalfields market. 

I was interested to know what GF selection would be on offer....the answer.....not that much!! There were a few items that just happened to be GF but no representation of a "GF only" company at all which I thought was quite surprising! Nevertheless, I picked up these

which are dangerously addictive! Great, bold flavours but....beware.....some flavours have a "produced in a factory that handles..." warning, so just double check before purchasing! (www.manomasa.co.uk)

These lovely little fudge bars were a no brainer for my sweet tooth

the only trouble was I couldn't decide which flavours to buy! I've only cracked open the strawberry and balsamic so far but...let's just say....I don't think they will be hanging around for long! Delicious!! (www.thewonkykitchen.com)

Frustratingly, I also paid £2 for one brownie which was ok but nothing to rave about! I won't name and shame the company as that's a bit mean but I know Dale makes a mean GF brownie and I'm yet to buy one that beats it! Just wish we had the confidence to set up and sell them.....would be great to see if we could! Any advice from anyone doing it would be appreciated!!

Outside of The Old Truman Brewary is a food market. My little GF heart skipped a beat when I noticed an Arepa stall! (@Arepazobros)

All Arepas are labelled as GF and this was just as good as my previous Arepa experience!

Corn bread, chicken, beans, guacamole, cheese and plantain! Wow! Dale and I ate our dinner before we realised it was only 4.30!! Oops! 

I always enjoy a trip to Broadway Market (www.broadwaymarket.co.uk) at London Fields and there's usually something new and GF to try! Last weekend I had a lovely warming veggie curry from (www.gujaratirasoi.com)

I thought Dale was just taking the photo of the food lol! I'd have smiled more if I'd have known!!! Anyway, dodgy pic aside, the curry was fab, just the thing for these chilly Autumnal days!

Speaking of chilly days I've been seriously craving some hot choc! I'm currently having a battle with Starbucks as I am trying to find out if their hot choc is GF! An easy enough question you would think.....wrong!! They have now informed me about their lattes, ALL their food but still not their hot choc arghhhh! Thank goodness for

Montezuma's have a shop at Spitalfields Market! (www.montezumas.co.uk) Not everything is GF but check the labels and you'll be pleasantly surprised! This mint hot choc is like drinking an After Eight! Mmmmmmmm! 

Now, has anyone eaten in Prezzo (www.prezzorestaurants.co.uk) recently? GF plus point....there are GF options on the Christmas menu woohoooo! They offer a 2 and 3 course festive menu special HOWEVER GF peeps can only have 2 courses cos there's no GF pudding!!! I know!!! How can that be??! Pudding is the best bit right?! Anyway, after getting over the pudding strops I ordered a Bianca pizza that had goats cheese, beetroot, butternut squash etc on it

BUT I could not get my knife through the base! I've had Prezzo pizza many times so just wondered if they had changed their base? I seriously couldn't do a thing with it! Thank goodness I was with a good friend who was suitably entertained by the mess I was making! Please take note.....this is NOT first date food!! 

Well, as always, I wish you all a lovely fortnight! Xx (@lizprice79)

Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude.....to gain pleasure from someone elses mis fortune! Last week my scadenfredeous (ok, I made that one up!!) experience came in the shape of two Udi's (www.udisglutenfree.co.uk) sliced white loaves! Yep, that's right, I'm easily pleased! The unfortunate thing.....my friend from work had purchased said loaves for her "egg free" son only to get get home to find a sticker stating the bread was no longer egg free! Annoying for her but fortunate for me coz they came my way!

I gave the loave some vigorous testing! Toast.....

Ham sarnie for lunch......

.....and I'm pleased to report I'm seriously impressed! Can't believe I haven't tried this before, especially as I'm fan of their bagels! Most impressive thing was that it lasted really well, I didn't freeze it for a few days and it was still as good as new! White bread is not the healthiest of choices, I know,  but for those occasional situations where only white bread will do....this is your guy!

I'm such a sucker for a special offer, in fact I am am advertisers dream! So, I was well and truly sucked in to entering a competition to win a Freego (www.freego.com) hamper. After entering the competition I got sent a voucher for money off my first Freego order, sooo...can you see where this is going?! 

Here's my order...!!

For those of you who don't know Freego is a cool little company who deliver a range of Freefrom products direct to your door. The phrase "kid in a sweet shop" comes to mind and I quicky cranked up a large bill! Well done to the Freego advertising department lol! Super impressed with the products on offer, the delivery time and the packaging. Lots of things that I hadn't seen before! Haven't tried everything yet but here's the low down so far.....

My faves by far have to be these

Yep, I know they're meant for kids but they are great! (www.smooze.co.uk) I'm particularly loving the "simply coconut" flavour, they are so sweet and creamy it's hard to believe there's no nasties in them! Really hit the spot after dinner when you want something sweet but you know another choc ice isn't a good idea!

We needed new pasta so I ordered a couple of brands. Have only tried this one (www.dialcos.it) so far but it's nice, made with corn flour and rice flour and.... it kinda tastes like pasta so I guess that's good!? Little tip .....Cook for longer than than the 8-9 mins stated....there's "Al dente" and there's "not cooked", so I'd give it a bit longer!

We all know I'm a rice cake fan and if they can come chocolate coated all the better!

These were good, probably not my fave choc rice cakes as the milk chocolate still tasted quite bitter to me (that's probably due to it being a good quality chocolate for a more refined chocolate eating palate than my own!!). Neverthess, not unpleasant and if you like fancy chocolate these could be for you. (www.elementsnacks.com)

Next was a little gamble

Ooooo I really didn't like these! (www.itsu.com) I couldn't even convince Dale to eat them! However, in their defence, we are not fishy / sushi kinda people. These definitely had a salty, seaside taste to them and did absolutely nothing for me! But if fish, sushi or any other acqatic animal floats your boat then these could be for you!

Most exciting purchase has to go to these (www.piacerimediterranei.it)

I haven't tried them yet but they have made my mum a very happy lady! Christmas 2014 will see the traditional family trifle being made with GF lady fingers! Oh yes, spongeless trifle has had its day!!! Watch out for early 2015 blog post with a full review!!!

As much as I would like to end with that nail biting cliff hanger, I do just want to share one last thing with you. Not ordered from Freego (more Freego items in future blog posts- I can only eat so quickly!!) but bought from the fabulous Cookies and Scream in Camden! (www.cookiesandscream.com) Yes, I've blogged about them before but come on, they're worth shouting (or screaming?!) about!! Dale brought me 2 treats home from his trip to Camden

This may well have an official name but apparently it's a brownie with a cookie in the middle! Oh yes, it really exists, a brookie or a crownie or whatever it is.......I don't need to say anymore than....wow! I'm sure you can guess how amazing it was! As for the second treat it didn't last long enough to have its picture taken but if I tell you it was the biggest, chocolatyist, most gooey cookie you've seen you'll understand why I didn't hang around to take the pic! Cookies and Scream I love you! 

Have a fab fortnight everyone! Xx (@lizprice79)

Tinned Carrots and Cheese Slices

Tinned carrots and cheese slices......pretty much sums up my diet over the last week! We have been in  Mallorca for Half Term and my diet probably reflects the quality of the hotel rather than the culinary Mallorcan delights that are on offer! Please, if you are heading off to sunnier climes for the winter please don't let me put you off...in fact read my last blog post on Mallorca, it'll be far more helpful! This year we were lazy.....we did nothing.....went no where.....just lounged and read! So, read on for a survival guide to lazy eating while on holiday.....

Firstly, as all good Coeliacs do, I travelled with a stash.... a stash as big my small baggage allowance allowed! My stash of goodies (necessities) included

9 bars (9bar.com)

Aero and Fudge Bars

Kallo Corn Cakes ( Yep, I went "all out" and ditched my usual rice cakes!) (www.kallo.com)

And finally Lovemore Jammy Wheels (www.lovemorefoods.com)

My stash served me well...I rationed out the choc and made the biscuits last alllllll week.......impressive I know!! These biscuits btw are fab, just like the real McCoy, the only prob is that they are so small....even more impressive that I made that last the week eh?! These little gems were found in Waitrose amd I'd definitely recommend!

So, we were half board in the Son Baulo hotel in Ca'n Picafort. Breakfast was pretty easy....eggs, bacon....tomatoes all ok!

Lunch.....that's where the corn cakes (and cheese slices!!) came in! I bought the little Spa shop out of cheese slices lol! Cheap and easy lunch...not fancy I admit but in a small town where most things were shut "for the season" or the remaining places served up any number of pre photographed burgers, pizza, pasta  amd paninni's etc I stuck with my corn cakes!

Dinner, now that was interesting! Had a rather hair raising experience on the first night when the "what I thought was tortilla" turned out to be quiche!!  Disaster! Despite checking with the chef if the "tortilla" was "sin gluten" I still ate 2 bites before I realised it was most definitely not sin gluten!!! After raised voices and unhappiness between an angry Welshman (Dale) and an equally angry Spanish waiter, we finally made ourselves understood and calm resumed! Thankfully my stomach also remained calm!! From there on in I was guided around by aforementioned waiter with an allergy ringbinder! It seems they were pretty on the ball after all....it just depended who you asked?!?! Hmmmmm.......anyway, gf dinner usually consisted of grilled meat and tinned carrots?! I think my tan could be more to do with my diet than the sun! Not amazing cuisine but still, at least it was safe!

Picked up a couple of random gf items on a shelf in a little supermarket.....all in amongst regular stuff so you really do have to look for it in the smaller stores!

These took the place of the corn cakes once they had run out! Very similar texture to those old Salt and Vinegar Chipsticks....do you remember them? These were an ok substitute but they stuck to your lip as you ate them in a rather unflattering manner!

These weren't great to be honest! Thought I was on familiar ground with chocolate covered rice cakes but these were very salty rice cakes with very bitter dark choc! Not a combination I'm keen to repeat!

Nevertheless, most branded ice creams are well labelled....YEY! Also, strangely enough, crisps are really well labelled too......not much help for me with my "potato weiredness" but thought I would share!

Anyway, I may not have had the best diet over the last week but I had a lovely hol, oh go on then, I'll throw in a holiday pic...

Weather was fab, beach was lovely, books were great and batteries are definitely recharged!

Nevertheless, I was quick to hit Costa in the arrivals area of Gatwick to buy one of these for the journey home

Not sure if I was just thrilled to have something other than cheese and tinned veg but this was delicious! Great basil flavour coming through and the wrap holds together really well! It's very similar to a Newburn Bakehouse wrap....does anyone know if it is?

Well, I have a few hours of freedom left before the new term begins and I'm off to make the most of them! Have a great fortnight! X (@lizprice79)

Pity Presents

One of the perks of being a Coeliac (let's face it, there aren't many!) is the amount of foodie presents I have received from family and friends! Maybe I'm blessed with particularly generous and sympathetic friends but as I've said before.....presents are always good and edible presents are even better!! (Particularly if they are actually GF!) Or, maybe it's the sorrowful puppy dog eyes I give them when they are tucking into communal birthday cake / doughnuts / pizza etc etc! Or maybe it's because I look like I'm wasting away and need a little fattening up?! (Clearly not true...You've seen how many blog posts are dedicated to cake right?! ) Nevertheless my friends / family are fab and I'm forever finding little GF treats left for me to find! This week was no exception..... Here is example 1....

Here we have an Udi's (http://udisglutenfree.co.uk) chocolate muffin! Now, I was familiar with the Udi's two pack (1 toffee, 1 choc chip) but I had not seen these before. Still in a 2 pack but both the same and both delicious! Delivered by a friend at work who was having a birthday and didn't want me to be left out! Yep....she's a keeper! The muffin was great, chocolatey enough without being too rich and held together really well. Good job it was a 2 pack cos I needed the other to get me through Parents Eve!!

Example number 2....

Regular readers will know I'm partial to a packet of popcorn so this was definitely the way to my heart.....left on my desk by same friend!! Told you she was a keeper ha ha! Metcalfe's (www.metcalfesskinny.com) do some great flavours and at the moment donations are being made to charity.......that's me doing my bit for charideeee......easier than running a marathon eh?! 

I came home to find a packet of Newburn Bakehouse (www.newburnbakehouse.com) white soft rolls waiting for me the other day! Daly had made burgers and took pity of my "non bun situation" so treated me!! (I clearly give off the pity vibe.....it seems to be working for me so hey, why not?!). Anyway, the aforementioned rolls come in a 4 pack and were great for my packed lunch the next day

I was actually quite impressed! I've had mixed feelings with Newburn Bakehouse items....loaves of bread not so good (don't last, fall apart, can be holey), muffins great but think they may have stopped some of them now (is that right??), love the wraps (plain and seeded but a little expensive) but these rolls were good! They didn't fall apart, tasted pretty much like white bread and weren't too stodgy! All good!

Finally a little treat I purchased for myself....

Crunch by name and cruch by nature (www.angelocglutenfree.co.uk) Super snappy and tasty too! Strangely tasted more like cherry to me which was a bit of a shame coz I don't like cherry! Nevertheless, I like the texture so much I'd definitely be up for trying some of the other flavours (a little "heads up" for anyone who next takes pity on me lol!)

Well, I shall wish you a "foodie gift filled" fortnight! I am heading off to Mallorca for Half Term and will look forward to telling you all about it when I get back! (@lizprice79) xx

Serendipity

So, apart from being the title of one of my all time favourite films (have you seen it?! If not, why not?? Go and get a copy now.....go on...my blog is ok but you'll enjoy the film sooooo much more!!) Serendipity is also the theme of this weeks blog post! According to Wikipedia Serendipity is "a fortunate happenstance" or "a pleasant surprise". I had my serendipitous experience last Saturday and of course it involved GF food!

Having walked the length and breadth of Walthamstow market without a sniff of a GF treat, to say I was a little downhearted (and hungry!!) is an understatement! When Dale suggested a trip to London fields, I nearly bit his hand off, as London Fields Broadway Market means one thing......Floris Food! I've blogged about Floris before but really and truly I cannot reccommend them enough. This week I tried my first ever arancini (rice ball)

My mood was instantly lifted......tasty chunks of chorizo nestled in breaded rice. Delicious and filling....stick that in your pipe Walthamstow! I was also lucky enough to sample a little caramelly choux bun 

and I won't confess to the other treats I bought!!!!

 Not stopping there, Dale and I stocked up on popcorn at Drum and Kernel http://www.drumandkernelpopcorn.co.uk

You'd think popcorn was popcorn right?! Wrong!!!! This is really something else....a mixture of sweet and salty, using "mushroom corn"(?!?!?) which makes larger pieces of popcorn......oh yes, we chatted to the person on the stall.....we truly are popcorn experts now! Mental note......the large pack goes a looooong way......eyes bigger than belly syndrome strikes again!!

BUT my true serendipitous experience was still to happen (I know, it can't get better than rice balls, buns and popcorn but it does!!).....

Dale and I popped into a little plain looking mini market kinda place to pick up a drink. This place was a cross between The Tardis and Aladdin's cave because it was rammed with stuff from floor to ceiling! It contained all the usual bits and bobs you'd expect to find in this kind of shop plus......wait for it.....wait for it.....A GLUTEN FREE SECTION!!!! There you have it......Serendipity!! Not only was there a whole section, they also had the Easy Bean crackers (http://www.easybean.co.uk/index.html) I had been wanting to try....can you have double serendipity?!

These crackers are great and I can so see why they proudly display their "great taste award" logo! Plus points....really tasty, surprisingly hearty and hold together really well which is unusual for a GF cracker! Negative points...only 5 in a pack which is clearly not enough (right?!) amd where on earth can I buy them now??? Will need to do a bit of research methinks!

For those who follow me on Twitter you may have already seen my proud stash of goodies from Marks and Spencer yesterday

Oh yes, I was proud of myself! The baguette was for my church lunch today. Not wanting to take my chances at the gluten riddled buffet, I decided to pack my own picnic (which did not include all of the above....I'm gutsy but not that gutsy!!) It pains me to say it but I wasn't overly thrilled! I really do heart M&S but I had high hopes for the baguette and it really wasn't that special.....first bite into my sandwich and the whole thing fell apart......just like a lot of other GF breads! However, the Victoria Sandwich is special, really special! Wow! I shared it around with others and no one knew it was GF, that's always a good test I reckon!

Finally, let's end with some chcolate!! I made pudding yesterday (Yep, you heard right, me...not Dale!!) Thanks to Nigella (http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/instant-chocolate-mousse-4) I whipped up this GF choc mousse which wasn't too bad you know!

Sooooo rich, incredibly thick and very dark chocolately (more of a milk choc fan myself!) but they went down well so guess that's good!

Wishing you all a fortnight of fortunate happenstances! (@lizprice79) xx