Mandy"s Gluten Free - Gluten Free Pies & Scones

Buying gluten free produce that’s, created in a purpose built gluten free kitchen, by a passionate coeliac is music to my ears. That is exactly what Mandy’s Gluten Free is. 

I love writing about my gluten free discoveries. I also love finding out other people’s gluten free discoveries on Facebook & Twitter. Facebook is exactly how I found out about Mandy’s Gluten Free & I’m so pleased I did!

Mandy is a Coeliac herself. She was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease after going through six long years of tests from doctors who couldn’t work out what was wrong with her. She was diagnosed age 38, and had been eating a normal diet until this time. I have spoken to a lot of people who have had similar stories to Mandy whereby they spent years undiagnosed. Make sure you check out the Coeliac UK website for details if you think you might have Coeliac Disease, it is very helpful.

It is great to see that Mandy chose to use her frustrations as a motivation to create gluten free foods for everyone to enjoy. Mandy was kind enough to send me a few of her products to try recently & I thought I would share some of Mandy’s Gluten Free offerings with you all!

1) Apple & Blackberry Pie

This pie was the first one to catch my eye. I love making my own fruit pies & crumbles, but I also love just eating them. Mark & I had to try this pie out immediately! We bought some dairy free custard & one night after dinner, shared it whilst watching an episode of Game of Thrones! The pie was lovely and full of filling, and it went beautifully with the custard.

2) Chicken Pie

We warmed this pie up and ate some of it with our lunch. There were huge chunks of juicy, succulent chicken buried within the delicious pastry crust. I really like it when a filling can be moist, yet the pastry still keeps its form and doesn’t go soggy. This was one of the best gluten free chicken pies I have had.

3) Steak Pie

Now, because Mark can’t really eat red meat I had completely forgotten how amazing a steak pie is. I haven’t had one in years! The meat in this pie was flavoursome beyond belief, & again, the pastry held it’s shape really well. I find with all of Mandy’s gluten free pies that the pastry is actually quite light. For a steak pie this is great, because otherwise you can feel rather lethargic & heavy after eating it. It only needed about 30 minutes in the oven and came out smelling & tasting amazing. With a dollop of mash & some gravy, this is the perfect dinner any day of the week.

4) Mediterranean Vegetable Pie

A Mediterranean Veg Pie sounds rather tasty to me. Essentially, ratatouille surrounded by pastry, yes please! Unfortunately this isn’t the pie for me, as a lot of veg disrupt my stomach. That didn’t mean Mark couldn’t give it a try however! The pie smelt amazing as it emerged from the oven. The filling oozed tomato, peppers, aubergine & courgette. To be honest I think this is a great idea for a pie. So often ratatouille is a side dish, but this puts a whole new spin on it, & makes it even more delicious.

5) Cheesy Leek & Potato Pie

This pie tasted and smelt as good as it sounded. Sadly my issue with onions (and leeks!) meant that I could only really destructively pick my way through the pie rather than eating it ‘pretty’. Nevertheless, I was obsessed with the flavours. I loved how strongly I could taste the rosemary on the potato & there was plenty of oozing cheese throughout. I would imagine with the amount of potato within this pie, it would be quite filling, it would be so worth it though… it is definitely a pie I would recommend.

6) Cheese Scone

Oh my, I love a good cheese scone. I haven’t got round to making my own in a while so this was a nice treat. However, it was a nice treat.. multiple times! This has to be the biggest cheese scone I have ever eaten! It is also one of the best I have ever eaten The sign of a good scone to me is when you can eat it without any topping & it still tastes great. This scone was as cheesy as they come with a flakey, melt in the mouth texture. As a girl obsessed with cheese I opted for eating this with butter & MORE cheese, crazy I know. It rocked my world.

7) Fruit Scone

Not only does Mandy make beastly gluten free cheese scones, she also makes giant gluten free fruit scones, which will definitely be right up your street if you miss a good scone, clotted cream & jam! If you are  looking to have a gluten free afternoon tea for yourself & few gluten free friends then these scones would be a perfect addition. They definitely taste as good as regular scones.

So…

There you have it, that was a few of the thing that Mandy’s Gluten Free has to offer. It is really nice to support smaller businesses like Mandy’s, especially when her products taste so damn good! Whilst I know shipping costs are always a massive problem for so many of you, I think it has to be appreciated that smaller businesses are not trying to rip you off. They are selling fresh & frozen homemade goods that need to be treated with care. To be honest, I would suggest putting in a rather large order & the postage definitely wouldn’t seem so bad then! All the gluten free pies & scones can be put in the freezer so you don’t need to eat them immediately anyway. & I promise you, it will be worth every penny.

You can buy Mandy’s Gluten Free online by clicking here.

Let me know what your favourite smaller gluten free businesses are. Have you tried Mandy’s Gluten Free before? You can leave a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

Mandy"s Gluten Free - Gluten Free Pies & Scones

REVIEW: Rennoldson"s Sweet Chilli Sauce with a Twist!

Sweet Chilli Sauce is a welcome addition to so many dishes these days. Rennoldson’s have created Sweet Chilli Sauces for even more occasions by creating 3 signature flavours that are even more versatile than your standard sweet chilli sauce. & what I personally love is that they are natural.

I love sweet chilli sauce. It started as something that I once only ate with prawn crackers, but now I use it much more regularly. However, most sweet chilli sauces you find in the supermarkets are full of nasties & unnatural things that you really shouldn’t be putting inside your body. So it has been a saviour for me to find Rennoldson’s, a company that produces sweet chilli sauces with nothing artificial; they call it… Flavours from Nature!

So what are their sweet chilli sauce flavours from nature?

• Fiery Pineapple, Ginger & All Spice


• Rich Pomegranate Lime & Mint


• Apple, Green Pepper & Bay

Now, there is no shame in initially thinking: “They sound crazy… what the hell would they taste like?!” Because I thought exactly that! I am the least fussy eater you will meet (despite what my food intolerances make out!!), & I was super excited to give them all a try!

Rennoldson’s make their 3 flavours of sweet chilli sauce from:
“whole fruits and vegetables, that are hand juiced in a green oak press to ensure absolute clarity of flavour. A carefully selected secondary flavour is accompanied by a herb or spice to create the perfect balance for each sauce.”

Great news, & better still every sweet chilli sauce that Rennoldson’s produces is both gluten free & dairy free.

this little one decided to look after the sauces like they were her own.

Now for me personally, sweet chilli sauce is a condiment. Something I might drizzle over salmon or use as a dip. However, Rennoldson’s state on the bottle that their sauces would be perfect as a base for a marinade or as a cooking ingredient. So really the possibilities are endless!

I’ve decided to do what I know and stick to using it as a condiment! Unfortunately, for me, I am one of those folk that really struggles to digest anything sugary, whether that be a massive cream cake or some fresh fruit. So I tend to steer clear of marinading meat in this way, even if the sugars are good & natural.

I’m currently visiting my parents so I thought I would do a taste test with them, so they could let me know which sweet chilli sauce they liked best & what they thought of them. I lined them up alongside a few tasty ‘dippers’… cheese & prawns being the favourite dippers! Here are the verdicts: 

Fiery Pineapple, Ginger & All Spice: This was definitely the favourite. We all decided we prefered this to regular sweet chilli sauce. It’s like a sweet & sour sauce with more of a kick to it. It smells amazing too. We enjoyed it so much that the following day we drizzled it over some fried rice at dinner. I would definitely recommend this flavour the most. This tropical taste would go with so many different dishes & snacks.

Rich Pomegranate, Lime & Mint: I initially found the smell of this sauce a little eccentric. I couldn’t tell if I liked it or not. But upon tasting it I changed my mind. The mint flavour really comes through a great deal & makes a chilli mojito party occur in your mouth – a really pleasurable experience! Whilst I wouldn’t pair it with my Chinese fried rice dish, I would have it some Mexican or Spanish flavours. I think it would work a treat!

Apple, Green Pepper & Bay: The spiciest of the sweet chilli sauce is definitely this one! It smells spicy & it definitely is. The green pepper taste comes through a lot & the spiciness somewhat overpowers the sharp granny smith apple flavour. Nevertheless, the combination of apple, green pepper & bay really works in this sweet chilli sauce. My Dad, who is a fan of spicier foods really enjoyed this one & said he would use it with a range of different dishes. Like the other two, it is very versatile but additionally, it’s hot hot hot!!!

Overall all 3 sweet chilli sauce went down rather well.They are refreshing in both flavour & idea. I love the concept & I love the fact they are completely natural. I also love the packaging, it works so well with the vibrant colours of the sweet chilli sauces. These sauces are truly something amazingly different on the palate. I really love them… & will definitely be enjoying all 3 sauces again!

Where can I get Rennoldson’s Sweet Chilli Sauce from?

Rennoldson’s have their own online shop which makes it super easy to grab a bottle wherever, whenever! You can also buy them locally to where they are based in the South West (Bristol/Bath area). Keep your eyes peeled for more locations across the UK!

Are you a sweet chilli sauce fan? Do you like the sound of these sweet chilli sauce twists from Rennoldson’s? What do you eat with your sweet chilli sauce? Let me know by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

 

REVIEW: Rennoldson"s Sweet Chilli Sauce with a Twist!

REVIEW: Silly Yak Gluten Free Pastry

Silly Yak is amazing right? Purely because of the name! Silly-Yak… Coeliac, get it?! They also make Gluten Free Pastry which I recently tried out after finally finding it in Tesco!

I asked a whole bunch of people on Facebook, what they miss in terms of pastry based foods & it reminded me of so many things that I miss! (You forget after a while!) Something I used to eat a lot of… Egg Custard Tarts. So I decided to use my Silly Yak Gluten Free Pastry to create some Gluten Free Egg Custard Tarts! If you want my Gluten Free Egg Custard Recipe using Silly Yak gluten free pastry then click here (I will put the link up soon!)

I found it!!

Now I am one of the worst people for making pastry, however much I follow a recipe, it never turns out quite right. I really struggle to roll pastry out without it sticking, however much flour I use! So for me, even using ready to roll gluten free pastry posed a mission!

With my rolling pin at the ready and a floured surface I got to work rolling out my gluten free pastry. I think my worries that it would potentially stick made to more careful, and it didn’t stick at all. It rolled really nicely like regular pastry, I definitely wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. I used a pastry cutter and cut out my circles to slot into the pastry tin. The pastry was very easy to manage.

I then made my egg custard filling, grated some nutmeg on top & put them in the oven at 190C for around 25-30 minutes. In my rush I completely forgot to glaze my pastry with a little egg (to make it golden!) But they still turned out really well!

Of course you might be able to tell that I go for the ‘rustic’, ‘homemade’ look with how I shape my pastry!! After leaving them to cool. Mum, Dad & myself sat down in the sunshine to give them a try! The pastry was absolutely delicious.

My mum said the pastry was the best she has had for an egg custard tart. Often shop bought egg custards & even pastry ingredients within an egg custard tart recipe, are very sweet. This pastry can be used for both savoury and sweet dishes & thus doesn’t have that unnecessary sweetness. I mean, the custard filling is sweet enough!

The pastry was definitely the perfect accompaniment to the custard filling. It keeps well and doesn’t seem to harden or become less pastry like after a couple of days. (I’ve had this problem with other pastries before!) It is flakey & crisp yet moist all at the same time. There were no soggy bottoms to be seen (Phew!). I am just so super thankful that Silly Yak have created a gluten free pastry… it really will solve a lot of pastry problems!

I bought another pack as well which I will definitely be using in the coming days to make something else… maybe something savoury this time. A simple sausage roll wouldn’t go a miss. & I have NEVER tried a cornish pasty! Crazy, I know!

Just like many of you, I have had a little trouble getting hold of Silly Yak gluten free pastry…. even though it is stocked in a huge amount of Tesco stores across the UK. I was lucky enough to find it after many attempts… so keep on looking. & I guess… keep on buying it & trying it… it’s the only way for companies like Silly Yak to keep going. Plus, this gluten free pastry is only £1.75. For a gluten free product I would definitely say this is an absolute bargain! I look forward to seeing what Silly Yak come up with next, I’m sure they won’t stop at just gluten free pastry. I guess keep your eyes peeled!

Have you had a chance to try out Silly Yak’s gluten free pastry yet? What did you think? Let me know what you made with it… or what you would like to make with it once you get your hands on it! You can do this by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

REVIEW: Silly Yak Gluten Free Pastry

A Gluten Free Bread Maker? Gluten Free Bread Rolls

So I said I would take you on my Gluten Free Bread Maker Journey with me… & that is exactly what I thought I would do today! Today I make, Gluten Free Bread Rolls.. Triple Seeded Bread Rolls!

All 6 of these delicious gluten free bread rolls disappeared very quickly. They had a perfect crusty outside, & the inside was beautifully soft. I can’t really believe I made them! Mark & I enjoyed them with a number of different fillings. A highlight was having one filled with chicken pesto. However, another highlight was eating one warm simply with a little butter! The bread is great, even on it’s own!

So my first attempt at making gluten free bread in the Zero Gluten Baker has definitely been a huge success! Mark has really been loving freshly baked gluten free bread rolls for lunch, as have I. Mark doesn’t even eat gluten free bread, but now I’m baking my own, he is loving it!

I will definitely be using my bread maker even more as time goes on. I want to try it out with sweet and savoury breads. I am really excited to make my own pizza dough too… then I can have my pizza whatever thickness I like! Maybe even a cheeky dairy free cheese stuffed crust?!

DISCOUNT CODE FROM 3RD JULY 2015 ONWARDS… If you fancy giving one of these beautiful Zero Gluten Bakers a go, I have good news…. I will have a discount code that will save each and every one of you £50! I will let you know what it is from 3rd July 2015! Stay tuned!

Let me know if there are any different types of gluten free bread you would like me to try out. What is your favourite type of bread? Are there any types of bread you struggle to find gluten free, but wish you could? Leave a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Oh & if you enjoyed the video please head over to http://youtube.com/user/glutenfreecuppatea for plenty more gluten free videos! Make sure you subscribe too

Thanks for watching & reading,

Becky xxx

 

A Gluten Free Bread Maker? Gluten Free Bread Rolls

Chiquito - Gluten Free Menu

Chiquito has always done great food, but what is even better about Chiquito is that they have a Gluten Free Menu! Plenty of restaurants offer gluten free options but I’ve had too many experiences of being given a huge unappetising, sticky, laminated allergy folder… a gluten free menu is much more pleasing on the eye!

Chiquito provides a thoroughly epic gluten free menu. (Click the Menu above to enlarge) I can safely say I have enjoyed many items on it, and have no complaints. There is so much choice compared to a lot of other chain restaurants. 

Starters: The Peri Peri Prawns are delicious & who isn’t a fan of Pulled Pork & Cheese Loaded Potato Skins?! If you’re not… Nachos or Halloumi Skewers might tickle your taste buds?!

Mains: Both Fajitas & Tacos can be indulged in by the Gluten Free eater here. No  ‘lettuce wraps’ are being offered instead of what you really want. I know a lot of folk seem to have a thing for using lettuce as a wrap, but personally, you are pointlessly cheating yourself of what you really want. You will never find me eating a lettuce wrap!! There are so many different fillings for your fajitas too, from pulled pork to BBQ chicken.

I also love all the fish & sizzling dishes they do gluten free, they are delicious. Oh, & best of all, all their fries are gluten free, even the sweet potato fries.

Desserts: A dessert beyond sorbet is actually an option here! (Although you can have sorbet if you fancy it!) The hot chocolate & brownie makes an appearance as does my favourite… Apple & Blueberry Crumble with Ice Cream. Yes Please!

I have always found that staff in Chiquito have been extremely helpful and friendly. They never mind switching side dishes on the menu for you, & best of all they are well educated with a smile!

Chiquitos are dotted around all over the place, especially near out of town cinema complexes, so I’m sure there is one close by to you! It has the perfect menu, where there really is something for everyone… oh & don’t forget the cocktails!!

Rub the lizard for good luck when you enter any Chiquitos!

Have you been to Chiquito? How did you find the Gluten Free Menu? Are there other chain restaurants that offer gluten free menus that you prefer? Let me know by leaving a comment below… or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

 

Chiquito - Gluten Free Menu

REVIEW: Henleys Fish & Chip Shop, Wivenhoe - Gluten Free Fish and Chips

In Essex & want Gluten Free Fish and Chips? Wivenhoe, the village I grew up in is home to the BEST Fish & Chip Shop for Gluten Free. All day everyday, Gluten Free Fish and Chips are available! Henleys is definitely the one for Gluten Free!

I was sitting last week pondering over when I last had a safe and delicious fish & chips dinner from a fish & chip shop. The answer I came up with was never. I haven’t eaten fish & chips from a takeaway safely since before I found out I was intolerant to gluten.

Back in the day my family used to have fish & chips every Saturday night and I used to love it. It brings back such happy memories of the past when I could sit and feel normal, eating identical food to everyone else.

Strangely for some reason the other day I was on my local fish & chip shop’s website (Henleys of Wivenhoe), a place I thought was completely out of bounds to me and noticed the line: ‘Gluten Free ALWAYS available!’ What?!?! Have I been missing out for so long for no reason I wondered!

I immediately emailed Henleys asking if this was true and for some further details regarding what ‘Gluten Free’ meant to them. I received an incredibly friendly reply soon after stating that they used an approved gluten free batter, a separate fryer and keep all serving tongs sterile, in a separate labelled container. They said that they could offer any fish on the menu with a gluten free batter. I was really happy with this reply, they told me to just give them a ring prior to coming to get my fish & chips, as it would take about 20 minutes… fine by me! They even offered to show me the whole gluten free cooking process if I wished.

Gluten Free Heaven!

So yesterday evening I decided it was time to finally give gluten free fish and chips a go again. I called up Henleys and ordered some Scampi & chips for Mum, Haddock & chips for Dad and then…. I ordered a GLUTEN FREE Hake & chips for me! So not only did I get gluten free but they serve up one of my favourite fish, Hake! Hake has such a subtle sweet flavour, you should definitely give it a try over cod sometime if you haven’t before.

About 20 minutes later I drove up to Henleys (a 30 second drive from home!) and my fish & chips were ready and waiting. They had placed the gluten free in a separate box and bag from the other fish and chips and seemed to be very aware of the importance of keeping the gluten free separate from the rest. Their attitude towards gluten free was incredibly reassuring and I was a very happy girl before I even got to see or taste my dinner!

Upon arriving home I got all the fish and chips out of the boxes and paper ready to eat. My hake and chips looked amazing. The hake was a really good size and the batter was golden – identical in colour and texture to the regular fish and chips the others were having. The huge portion of chips looked great too. At this point I was incredibly excited and had the tartar, ketchup, salt & vinegar at the ready… ready to destroy that gluten free hake!

Now of course I guess I should tell you what my taste buds thought! Well let me tell you they were, and still are incredibly happy. The fish was delicious, it was soft and flakey and incredibly sweet just as hake should be. It was perfectly cooked. The batter was the perfect level of crispness and was the perfect amount for my fish, their was not an unnecessary amount of excess crunch which can so often be the case with battered fish. It really was delightful, if I could have had another one an hour later I definitely would have! Similarly the chips were really tasty, nice and chunky, and full of flavour. They also lacked the greasiness that so many portions of chips often have.

For the first time ever I think I completely finished my entire plate of fish and chips. I couldn’t even fit all the chips on my plate first time round but went back and refilled my plate with a second helping, a definite good decision.

Basically I am an incredibly happy girl after last night and cannot wait to have another portion of gluten free fish and chips again… next week! It was such a lovely surprise to find out that Henleys offer a gluten free option. Furthermore, beyond just offering a gluten free option they showed me that they really do care about their intolerant and coeliac customers.

So if you are ever in the area head down to Henleys in Wivenhoe and grab yourself a delicious portion of gluten free fish and chips, you certainly won’t regret it.

If you know of any other local restaurants or cafes that offer up gluten free treats in the Wivenhoe/Colchester area be sure to let me know!

Thanks for reading,

Becky xx

http://www.henleysfishandchips.co.uk/index.html

REVIEW: Henleys Fish & Chip Shop, Wivenhoe - Gluten Free Fish and Chips

REVIEW: Urban Angel Edinburgh - Gluten Free & Dairy Free Cafe

An amazing spot for Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch or just some cake in Edinburgh has got to be Urban Angel. It not only serves delicious food, it also has a wealth of gluten free options. Urban Angel Edinburgh is the place to go for great grub! Urban Angel Edinburgh is also featured in my Guide of the Best Gluten Free Destinations in Edinburgh, click here to check it out.

Urban Angel, Edinburgh

Earlier this year Mark & I, had a week away in Edinburgh. We explored a whole host of different restaurants that were suitable for those following a Gluten Free Diet (me!) as well as those following a Dairy Free Diet (Mark!).

We had some amazing meals out, & I would highly recommend Edinburgh for anyone on a gluten free diet, I didn’t struggle anywhere. Whilst we were in Edinburgh, we started to form a list of places we had heard were great for those on a gluten free diet and chose a few to visit. We decided that for our final meal before our train journey home we would go out for lunch to a place called Urban Angel.

We popped in to Urban Angel a few days before we went for lunch to check it out (I always like to do this if I’m close by). It was heaving with people & the staff were incredibly helpful. One lady explained that nearly everything is or can be adapted to be gluten free, as well as dairy free. She also told me where they get their gluten free bread from. They get it from Archipelago Bakery run by the lovely Caroline Walsh. It is a local bakery that you might like to visit in Edinburgh too, they have plenty of gluten free options. 

So of course after seeing Urban Angel so busy a few days previous, on our final day in Edinburgh, we made sure we had booked a table to ensure we got to enjoy our lunch! (This is something I would highly recommend, it was only a Tuesday lunch time when we visited!)

Urban Angel have a brunch menu (which runs all day!), a lunch menu, cakes (always delicious gluten free options) & a specials menu each day. They also do amazing juices & smoothies.

Breakfast Smoothie

As brunch enthusiasts, we both chose off the bunch menu. First off I got a Breakfast Smoothie which was almond milk, blueberries, banana, honey + almond butter. It was delicious, & a perfect accompaniment to my food. 

I couldn’t wait to try the gluten free bread. So I ordered Scrambled Eggs, Avocado & Smoked Haddock on toast. I guarantee this bread will blow your mind. It was so flavoursome, I can’t actually think of any bread I have had that beats this. If I lived in Edinburgh I would be down Archipelago Bakery all the time buying it for myself! The scrambled eggs were actually amazing too, who would have thought something so simple can be made so amazing. I felt like I was eating the best eggs around. The avocado sliced on top was a really nice touch, I really liked how it was presented. Oh, & avocado is one of man’s greatest creations! Finally, the smoked haddock… insane! I have never had smoked haddock within my brunch before. I often have it in a fish pie but rarely any other time. It had a delightful strong flavour & flaked to perfection. 

Mark went for poached eggs, smoked salmon & avocado on toast… another brilliant choice. Those poached eggs had lovely runny yolks when broken in to! The smoked salmon was amazing too, and plenty of it! Needless to say he devoured the whole plate!

From looking around Urban Angel I could see some amazing food being eaten by other people too. The presentation of every plate was perfect. Urban Angel manage to take simple classic dishes to another level. I have no doubt that everyone who visits will want to visit again! 

I cannot wait to next visit Edinburgh, I will definitely be heading straight for Urban Angel again! I would highly recommend it to everyone & anyone. It is a great experience, perfect location, helpful staff & delicious gluten free food – what more could you want?!

Let me know if you do visit or if you have any other recommendations of places I should visit for tasty gluten free food! Just leave a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter. 
Urban Angel is located 121 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DJ.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

REVIEW: Urban Angel Edinburgh - Gluten Free & Dairy Free Cafe

The Allergy & Free From Show 2015 - Free Tickets!!

The Allergy & Free From Show 2015 is happening across the weekend of July 3rd – July 5th. It is a chance to find new Free From brands & pick up plenty of freebies! & best of all I have FREE TICKETS TO GIVEAWAY! CLICK HERE!

The Allergy & Free From Show 2015 showcases hundreds of Free From Brands all there to make a difference to your lives & provide you with the very best Free From food. Whether you are Gluten Free, Wheat Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Soya Free, Nut Free or anything else… there is really something for everyone.

Click here for FREE TICKETS, A UDI’S TIGER BREAD DISCOUNT & FREE TICKETS FOR ALL YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY!

The Allergy & Free From Show is an event I would never ever miss. I love attending & meeting all the people that make it possible for me & so many other people I know, have a happy, healthier life. Whilst the big brands such as Tesco, Sainsburys, Schär & Udi’s (who sponsor the show) are all present; there are even more unique smaller brands that you might have never heard of! I GUARANTEE, you will come away with your mind blown at what really is out there for you, if you have to live a Free From lifestyle. I’ve been going for years and still find new exciting brands every year, hence I am so excited for the show!!

There are also plenty of talks taking place at the show from the very best individuals in the business. The Schär Learning Centre hosts talks throughout the day which are exceptional. I would highly recommend checking out Dr Nick Read’s talk named: ‘IBS: Whats it all about and what to do about it?’ If you suffer from IBS like me, it will definitely be of great interest. You also have the chance throughout the Allergy & Free From Show 2015 to speak to specialists who might be able to help & give advice to you about any digestive issues you might suffer with. These people are specialists in the industry… it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to speak to such folk… for free!

Sainsbury’s also run a live cooking area where you can sit and watch top chefs prepare Free From foods & create delicious recipes. I would highly recommend resting your legs part way through the Allergy & Free From Show, and giving this a watch. It is well worth it & really interesting.

 The Allergy & Free From Show 2015 is co-hosted alongside the Just V Show 2015 & the Love Natural Love Organic Show 2015. This is also great as many of the different brands attending for these shows also offer a lot in terms of Free From. For instance, the Just V Show is full of Vegan brands which are in tern both Dairy Free & Egg Free. (Plenty of Dairy Free Cheese to try… they rock!!)

Anyway as I said, it is one of my favourite events of the entire year and I really would recommend you attending. It is well worth registering for a free ticket! I mean, you might suddenly decide to go last minute, so register for a ticket today by clicking this link…. it is completely free & you will really find so many freebies & discounts within the show… I guarantee you will come away wealthier than before you went!! (in food & knowledge!)

Another bonus of signing up is that because Udi’s are Sponsoring the Allergy & Free From Show 2015, when you sign up for your free ticket… you also will receive a voucher immediately for money off their delicious Gluten Free, Dairy Free Tiger Bread Loaf, which you can use in supermarkets. (I’ve already used mine!)

Have you ever been to the Allergy Show before? Are you going this year? What are you looking forward to? Please let me know by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter. & if you have any questions regarding the Allergy & Free From Show 2015, please let me know.

Thanks for reading & see you there?!

Becky xxx

Click here for FREE TICKETS & A UDI’S TIGER BREAD DISCOUNT!

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  Click here for a review of The Allergy & Free From Show 2014 North

  
  


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  Click here for a review of The Allergy & Free From Show 2014 London

  
  


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  Click here for a review of The Allergy & Free From Show 2013 London

  
  

 

The Allergy & Free From Show 2015 - Free Tickets!!

REVIEW: Amisa Organic Gluten Free Pancake Mix

Pancakes are one of my favourite things to eat in the whole world. I recently bought a Gluten Free Pancake Mix  made with buckwheat & wholemeal rice flour from Amisa Organic. I have to say, these are the best pancakes ever!

Growing up, pancakes were reserved for Shrove Tuesday & pretty much no other day. My Mum used to just make a standard mixture using flour, eggs & milk which I cannot fault.. I still use it sometimes (with gluten free flour these days of course!)

Nevertheless, I am always up for trying different types of pancakes made with different ingredients… so long as they are still Gluten Free! The Amisa Organic Gluten Free Pancake Mix caught my eye when I was in Holland & Barrett recently. It’s been a good few months since Pancake Day & I liked the idea of the mix being made with a mix of buckwheat & rice flour. I thought this might give more flavour to the pancakes, compared to the regular plain flour that I use. When using plain gluten free flour I feel like the pancakes are there purely to facilitate the filling; I hoped that this gluten free pancake mix would provide more flavour with the use of these different wholegrain flours.

Similarly to making any pancake mix, to the dry mix you just need to add milk & an egg. However, it also says to make these pancakes egg free/vegan it would be fine to add just soya milk & no egg at all!

The box has two separate bags of the gluten free pancake mix in it, so you might just like to open one bag for two people & leave the other bag for another pancake session. Alternatively you could use both bags & make tons of pancakes! (We used 1 1/2 bags!)

It is so easy to mix together, and you don’t even need a whisk, a fork is definitely sufficient if you haven’t got one to hand.

Gluten Free Pancake Heaven… tuck in!

We made a rather large stack of pancakes using the gluten free pancake mix. They cooked within minutes in the frying pan. They are easy to flip over, and come out golden. For me it was nice to have a stack of thicker, more american style pancakes. I have been so used to eating thin crepe like pancakes in the past (which I still love!), but these slightly thicker ones really hit the spot!

They had a great flavour that I think came from the buckwheat flour. I have eaten quite a few thin pancake style galettes in recent months which have a similar sort of flavour. It’s nice for the pancakes to have depth in flavour, without it being sweet. Heck, I put enough delicious sweet toppings on my gluten free pancakes, I don’t want the pancake itself to taste sweet too!

My pancake toppings on this occasion were:

• Homemade Cinnamon Apple Compote & Pecan Nuts


• Homemade ‘Healthy’ (3 Ingredient) Nutella, Bananas & Strawberries

I used to be a huge fan of lemon & sugar and golden syrup. But these days I am having to seriously cut down the refined sugar in my diet. I really think the toppings I have now are the best! (Mark agrees.. he does add some extra maple syrup to his too though!) It is good to be able to make your own toppings from scratch & know exactly what is in them.

We had a few left over & kept them in an air tight container & had them for lunch, warmed up two days later. They still tasted amazing! I really want to try this gluten free pancake mix with some savoury fillings too. I remember when I was younger I made filled savoury pancakes at school. We filled them with ham & cheese, topped them in a sauce & baked in the oven! I really think these pancakes would work really well like that too! (Watch this space I guess!)

Where can you buy Amisa Organic Gluten Free Pancake Mix?

You can grab the Gluten Free Pancake Mix from a range of different places across the UK and beyond. The likes of Ocado, Planet Organic, Real Foods, Goodness Direct and Holland & Barrett allow you to buy it online. Plenty of Supermarkets stock it as well. Additionally a HUGE amount of local, independent shops across the UK also sell it. Click here to find one close to you.

Have you tried the Amisa Organic Gluten Free Pancake Mix? What did you think? Do you have any other gluten free pancake mixes you like? Or do you always make your own from scratch? Let me know by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

REVIEW: Amisa Organic Gluten Free Pancake Mix

Vegan Parmesan Cheese from Violife! (Dairy Free)

Vegan/Dairy Free Cheeses are becoming more common across the UK & beyond. Often we are offered dairy free cheese spreads or a cheddar style cheese… but now Violife have created Vegan Parmesan!

I have loved Violife cheese for quite a long time now. With Mark unable to eat any dairy cheeses, we are always on the hunt for dairy free alternatives! Violife have created such a vast range of different flavoured dairy free/vegan cheeses, all of which are perfect for so many different dishes.

So in terms of Hard Dairy Free/ Vegan Cheeses, Violife already offer these flavours:

• Original

• Tomato and Basil

• Herbs

• Peppers

• Hot Peppers

• Cheddar Flavour

• Mushrooms

• Olives

• Olive Oil

• Pizza Flavour

• Mozzarella Flavour

• Smoked Flavour

They also offer a wide range of Soft Dairy Free/ Vegan Cheeses to enjoy:

• Original

• Tomato and Basil

• Herbs

• Cucumber and Dill

• Hot Peppers

So versatile, we use it in everything!

 

My local Vegan Cafe, V Revolution in Manchester stocks every single flavour of Violife so I have been fortunate enough to try a lot of these. We love grating it into pasta dishes. We love making hot melted cheese sandwiches for lunch with it. We love it on pizza. We love it on crackers. Basically, whenever you fancy cheese Violife gives you the option, even if you do need to be on a dairy free diet. I personally am not dairy free, only Mark is, but I live on Violife & I love it!

For me, a Dairy Free/ Vegan Parmesan is definitely something missing from the market. There are some great other brands such as Mozzarisella that offer delicious options in terms of dairy free soft mozzarella style cheeses & even dairy free soft blue cheeses, but Dairy Free/ Vegan parmesan was an uninhabited area! I am so excited to try this as soon as it becomes available online or in stores.

Where can I get Violife Dairy Free/ Vegan Parmesan?

I will let you know when I find it & what I think of it

What types of cheese do you miss if you are having to live on a dairy free / lactose free diet? What is you favourite brand of vegan / dairy free cheese? Please let me know by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

Vegan Parmesan Cheese from Violife! (Dairy Free)

REVIEW: Choc Chick - Dairy Free Chocolate Making Kit - Gluten Free + Raw + Refined Sugar Free!

Making your very own chocolates and choosing how they look & taste, sounds like every child’s dream. A dream that is left unfulfilled by everyone bar those who become chocolatier! However Choc Chick have created the most amazing gluten free, dairy free, raw chocolate making kit which I guarantee you will love. It’s fun, super tasty, quick & also makes the perfect gift!

So Mark is a massive chocolate fan, but his lactose intolerance means it isn’t always easy for him to enjoy a wide selection of different chocolates. However, a couple of months ago I saw this amazing chocolate making kit in the Holland & Barrett More Store in Chester. I had to grab one! However, as you might have seen from a video on my YouTube Channel… I ended up giving my Choc Chick Chocolate Making Kit away to a friend as a gift! I’m not sure how impressed Mark was by this at the time… but luckily we have a new Choc Chick Chocolate Making Kit now… & so far we both have given it a huge thumbs up!

The idea of making chocolate is pretty exciting to me. It’s like being in Charlie & the Chocolate Factory or something. If I had the chance to make chocolate when I was a kid I would have gone crazy! Now 24, I was still pretty darn excited to give this a try. Especially with it being both gluten free & dairy free… perfect combo for Mark & I.

So, the chocolate making kit comes with Organic Raw Cacao Butter, Organic Raw Cacao Powder, Sweet Freedom (100% Natural Sweetener made from 100% fruit), a recipe booklet & some mini baking cases. This is literally all you need to make chocolate… & I didn’t even use my baking cases!

The chocolate making kit is dairy free, gluten free, refined sugar free, soya free & egg free. It is incredibly versatile too. From reading the mini recipe book & then looking on their website, I got so many good ideas of how I could make little chocolates for us both to enjoy anytime that we wanted them.

Not one for going just for a basic plain chocolate… I decided to make something a little different. I added two extra ingredients to my dairy free chocolates… banana and peanut butter! Before starting the chocolate making process I cut up a couple of bananas. I then sliced each piece into two & put all the pieces of parchment paper in the freezer for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes I sandwiched two pieces together with a dollop of peanut butter & put them in the freezer again to firm up (15 minutes is perfect!)

Whilst the banana & peanut butter chilled in the freezer I started the chocolate making process. It is so simple! I melted the cacao butter in a bowl over a pan of water on a low heat. I then mixed in my cacao powder. & Finally I added my Sweet Freedom. If you wanted to you could just pour the mixture into your little cases like this and freeze them for simple chocolates, BUT I had other ideas!

I left the chocolate mixture to cool slightly (only 10 minutes) so it would thicken, then I dipped each of my banana/peanut butter pieces onto the chocolate, coating them completely! I put them back in the freezer on the parchment paper to chill for 10 minutes… & like magic… my homemade banana/peanut butter chocolates were ready! They went down a treat!!

I would highly recommend grabbing a chocolate making kit from Choc Chick for so so many reasons:

1) It is great to make your own chocolates as you know exactly what is in them… no nasties.

2) These chocolates are actually GF in more than just Gluten Free, they are Guilt Free too!

3) They are Dairy Free, Soya Free, Egg Free, Refined Sugar Free & Raw too!

4) The chocolate tastes amazing!

5) The recipe booklet shows how you can make lots of different things with the kit, beyond just chocolates.

6) Perfect fun for big kids and little kids (they make a childrens chocolate making kit too!)

7) Great gift for you or a friend!

Where can you buy a Choc Chick Chocolate Making Kit?

You can buy directly from Choc Chick online, in some John Lewis, in Whole Foods, Planet Organic, Harvey Nichols & a whole host of independent places. Click here for a list of stockists.

Have you ever tried making your own chocolate? How did it go? Have you tried a Choc Chick chocolate making kit before? How did you get on? Would love to know your thoughts on chocolate making & also how you find it if you are dairy free etc… is finding tasty chocolates you can eat a problem? 

Let me know by leaving a comment below. Or on Facebook/Twitter!

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

REVIEW: Choc Chick - Dairy Free Chocolate Making Kit - Gluten Free + Raw + Refined Sugar Free!

Ed"s Diner - Gluten Free Menu

So I’m sure by now a lot of you folks have heard that the amazing american style diner… Ed’s Diner, now has a completely gluten free menu that is accredited by Coeliac UK. Well here it is!

So for some reason Manchester doesn’t currently have an Ed’s Diner… what a joke! I used to love visiting the original Ed’s Easy Diner in Soho back when I did eat gluten. I’d enjoy milkshakes & burgers all day long! Nowadays I thought such places were out of bounds for those of us who have to live gluten free. However, this is anything but true!

Ed’s Diner have created an extensive menu filled with everything you could ever ask for in an American Diner… ALL GLUTEN FREE & ALL ACCREDITED BY COELIAC UK!

From Hot Dogs (in Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns) to Juicy Burgers (in Gluten Free Burger Buns), & all with a range of delicious toppings. For once we don’t just have to go for the plain burger or the plain hot dog… hows about a Pulled Pork covered Hot Dog?! Yes!

Such a range of delicious fries too. Sweet Potato Fries, Chilli Fries, ‘Wet’ Fries, Cheesy Fries, even Atomic Fries! There really is fries for everyone.

Ed’s Diner Breakfasts are also not a problem being Gluten Free. Breakfast Rolls & Breakfast Burgers are all good at Ed’s!

Oh & don’t think that Ed’s Diner have forgotten about Gluten Free desserts, cause they haven’t. Ice Cream Sundaes feature strongly! Oh & the MILKSHAKES!! 8 different single flavour shakes, 4 double flavour shakes & the amazing Nutella Shake too. I really am getting very hungry talking about this!

With well over 30 Ed’s Diner scattered across the UK, if you haven’t been already it is definitely time to get down to one. Click here for locations. I am trying to think when I will be close by one next, & scheduling it into the diary!

Have you tried out the Gluten Free (Coeliac UK accredited) menu at Ed’s Diner? If so what did you think? If you haven’t, does the menu make you want to go? Let me know by leaving a comment below. Or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

Ed"s Diner - Gluten Free Menu

REVIEW: Kelloggs Gluten Free Organic Puffed Corn Cereal

The king of cereal in the UK, the brand we all know for cereal has now made it’s first gluten free cereal for the UK… Kelloggs Gluten Free Organic Puffed Corn Cereal!

Last week I went to a different Sainsbury’s from my regular store, which seemed to have a much larger free from section than what I am used to. The product that caught my eye the most was the Kelloggs Gluten Free cereal. Kellogg’s in the UK has never moved into creating products for the free from aisle before, but with Nestle creating their very own Gluten Free Cereal (Cornflakes & Honey Flakes), it seemed inevitable that Kelloggs would eventually create a cereal specially for the Gluten Free market.

Unlike Nestle, Kelloggs Gluten Free first venture is going to be placed down the free from aisle. Having spoken to a lot of people about this, it would seem that this is a popular decision as it makes it much easier to find.

So Kelloggs first Gluten Free cereal product is quite simply puffed corn! It only contains four ingredients, is whole grain & in addition is also 100% organic. I love products that have so few ingredients you can count them on one hand, that is how all simple foods should be. Seeing ingredients that sounds essentially like a science experiment on a box is never a good sign… so a big thumbs up to Kelloggs Gluten Free straight away.

I guess what is really needed now however, is to have a TASTE TEST!

Upon opening the box, something smelt instantly delicious! I didn’t really expect them to look as they did, even if there is a picture on the box! Each piece looks like a puffed up flake with a slight coating. I tried a few flakes without milk as I couldn’t resist… I have to say it tastes almost like popcorn! My mind was instantly blown, how can a cereal like this taste like a sweet, almost toffee popcorn… without being really sweet?! A lot of the flavour comes from the fact that this cereal is also wholegrain, a definite plus point. I made myself a bowl with some almond milk and instantly felt like I was having dessert for breakfast. It made me really happy! I knew Mark would love it, so I made him a bowl too. He said he had never had a cereal quite like this before & would like to eat it everyday! (he can eat gluten so he doesn’t even have to!!) We both decided that Kelloggs Gluten Free have done something really good here; by making a gluten free cereal that is different from regular cereals. It’s amazing.

But then… we get down to the cost! The box is 300g and I picked it up for £3 in Sainsburys. So compared to the Nestle Gluten Free Cereals, (Nestle GF Cornflakes are £1.99 for 500g) it would seem that the Kelloggs Gluten Free Puffed Corn is a little on the steep side. How is £1 per 100g a reasonable price for cereal! I also wish the box was bigger. For me, a 300g box is so easy to get through in a very short space of time. I mean, who are cereal brands kidding… a serving is never realistically 30g. This box would never last 10 days, I doubt it would last me 5 days! The packaging is the thinnest cereal box I have ever seen!

So weighing it up… if the Kelloggs Gluten Free Puffed Corn Cereal was cheaper, it would likely become mine & Mark’s number 1 cereal. It was delicious & different… I would probably snack on it all day too! However, as it stands I cannot justify paying £3 for a 300g box of cereal on a regular basis. The gluten free cereal I regularly buy is £3, but, there is more in the box. I will definitely buy this cereal again as I have fallen in love with it, but not every single day. Please reduce the price Kelloggs!

Where can you buy Kelloggs Gluten Free Puffed Corn? So far I’ve found it in Sainsburys! Let me know if you see it elsewhere too

Let me know your thoughts on the Kelloggs Gluten Free Cereal. Do you like it? Have you been able to get hold of it easily in supermarkets? Do you think its good value for money compared to other Gluten Free cereals on the market? Leave a comment below or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

REVIEW: Kelloggs Gluten Free Organic Puffed Corn Cereal

REVIEW: Voakes Gluten Free Pork Pies, Sausage Rolls & more!

There is always something special about a pork pie. It is a very simple item. It feels classic, British & takes pride of place at every family picnic I have every attended. Yet Gluten Free Pork Pies are definitely a much more reclusive member of the picnic. However, Voakes Free From have found a way to bring Gluten Free Pork Pies out of their shells & show them off to the world…

I’ve heard of Voakes Free From for quite a while now. It is the gluten free range from Voakes Pies! You might have heard of Voakes Pies as in 2014 they got a whole host of highly commended awards at the Free From Food Awards for their Gluten Free Pies. However, more likely you will have heard of them because… in 2015 they won the overall best free from product for their Gluten Free Pork Pies!

To think that a pork pie enthusiast like myself, who has gone without a single sniff of a pork pie for well over 5 years, had never even thought to try Voakes’ Gluten Free Pork Pies before, well…. its a crime. So, a few days ago I jumped on the Voakes Free From Website & put in an order!

The range of different free from products on the Voakes Free From website is amazing. Gluten Free Chicken Pies, Game Pies, Steak & Ale Pies, Quiches, Pasties, Sausage Rolls & Pastry. How could I possibly decide! What is also great is that a lot of the Voakes Free From products are not only Gluten Free & suitable for Coeliacs. Plenty of products are also Egg Free, Dairy Free, Soya Free & Vegan; this is clearly stated on the online shop so there is no confusion.

Furthermore, Voakes Free From products are all created in a dedicated gluten and wheat free environment. It is great to hear that they emphasise there is no chance of cross contamination.

So after much deliberation I chose 4 delicious Gluten Free Treats for the weekend:

1. Traditional Pork Pie

2. Pork & Chilli Pie

3. Chicken Pie

4. Sausage Roll

1. Traditional Pork Pie

Oh my Pork Pie! This gluten free pork pie was amazing. The pastry was beautifully golden It had a firm yet crumbly texture. The pork tastes seriously high quality & actually comes directly from the Voakes family’s stock of pigs. It is well seasoned and enjoys a little jelly between the pastry & pork. My description probably cannot do this pie justice, it was probably the best pork pie I have ever tasted. Seriously how can this be Gluten Free & Dairy Free?!

2. Pork & Chilli Pie

Similarly to the award winning traditional Gluten Free Pork Pies that Voakes make, the Pork & Chilli Pie looked too inviting to turn down! It has the same delicious golden pastry on the outside which encases the high quality pork filling. However, the Gluten Free Pork & Chilli Pie has the addition of a mouthwatering hot but sweet chilli chutney, created by Puckett’s Pickles. The chutney brought heat & excitement to the pie. It’s a moist and flavoursome pie, that needs to be tasted by all asap!

3. Chicken Pie

 So I thought it would be good to try out a slightly different product from Voakes Free From, I had always thought of them as just doing the gluten free pork pies, however they also do chicken pies using the exact same pastry. I don’t think I have ever had chicken inside this type of pie so I was intrigued as to how it might work. The chicken filling is succulent and bound by a creamy white sauce. The filling is plentiful too, one thing Voakes never do is scrimp on their filling! If you have, or haven’t, tried a chicken pie, essentially created with ‘Pork Pie’ pastry, I would highly recommend you try this. It is, in my opinion, glorious!! 

 4. Sausage Roll

I have loved sausage rolls my whole life. I must admit I have probably eaten a lot more bad quality sausage rolls compared to good quality. This is the best sausage roll I have ever consumed, & it is gluten free. Just like their Gluten Free Pork Pies the filling is exquisite. The pork is seasoned perfectly & the pastry is traditionally luxurious. It melts in the mouth & is perfectly flakey. How this pastry is dairy free & gluten free is beyond me again! I could certainly do with one of these piping hot on a chilly day or cold dipped in chutney on a hot summers day. I could seriously eat this every single day.

Voakes Free Free From seriously know how to do free from. I wanted to know what all the fuss was about when I saw their Gluten Free Pork Pies won the big prize at the Free From Awards 2015. I certainly understand why they won now. Adding these four amazing gluten free items to my basket was one of the greatest things I have done in 2015 so far. 

There isn’t a soul on this earth who enjoys a pork pie, or a sausage roll that wouldn’t enjoy these. Those who eat gluten would never be able to tell the difference & would definitely prefer these delicious products to any supermarket bought pork pie. Mark & I have rarely commented on how high quality a meat tastes, but upon trying the Voakes Free From products, we did just that.

Where can I get myself Gluten Free Pork Pies & the rest of the range from Voakes?

Well, like I did you can purchase all Voakes products on their website. They are incredibly efficient in sending orders out so I would highly recommend this option. My pies came perfectly in a chilled box with icepacks. Click here to visit their website for the online shop.

On their website they also have a list of stockists & markets where you can purchase the Voakes Free From range. It is really simple… just type in your postcode and it will show you the closest places to where you live that you can buy some tasty gluten free pork pies! Click here for the Stockists & Markets page.

I cannot recommend Voakes Free From Pies enough. Have you tried them before? Let me know what you think if you have. Or if you have a passion for pork pies & sausage rolls, let me know how much you have been missing them since eating gluten free! Leave a comment below. Or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading, I’m off for another slice of pie!

Becky xxx

REVIEW: Voakes Gluten Free Pork Pies, Sausage Rolls & more!