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!

The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards 2015 - Open for Entries!

Have you heard of The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards? Well if you haven’t you should of! The Awards are a great way to learn all about the best places to eat out on a Free From diet (Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free etc!) You might find some hidden gems you never knew existed!

The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards had it’s first outing in 2014 after many successful years of the FreeFrom Food Awards. The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards 2015 is all about celebrating the very best Free From Food options when out & about.

In the past it was incredibly difficult for those needing to follow any sort of Free From diet to find suitable options at restaurants, cafes, hotels or even in schools. Whilst this might still be the case in some areas of the country, the improvements made over the last few years has been outstanding. Now, in 2015, we find restaurants & cafes that are 100% gluten free, chain restaurants that are accredited by Coeliac UK, plus fish & chip shops that cater for gluten intolerances, & other free from needs every day of the week!

In December 2014 new regulations were put in place making the food service industry have a legal responsibility to inform customers if any of their foods contain any of the 14 most common allergens. Many restaurants, cafes & other food service establishments are now coming to realise that being aware of the allergens can open up untapped, exciting and lucrative new business. The Free From market is a booming sector in the UK, with so much potential & promise for those willing to take the time to understand the importance of the regulations.

With so many establishments now doing this so well, The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards 2015 seems the perfect way of rewards the best for their hard work. The awards also have the ability to show those who still have work to do, the benefits of catering better for the Free From Food market.

The Category list has had to expand this year with so many amazing places deservedly needing recognition. Here is the Category list for The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards 2015 which opened on the 8th June 2015 & closes on the 28th August 2015. Anyone wishing to enter needs to fill out an entry form before the closing date on the awards website. Click here for the details.

• Cafés and teashops
• Pubs and pub restaurants
• Independent restaurants and restaurant chains
• Hotels and guests houses
• Schools, colleges and universities
• Foods manufactured for food service
• Street food and takeaways
• Fish and chip shops
• Corporate hospitality and catering

I can already think of loads of different places that I think deserve an award in The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards 2015, can you?

It would be great if you have any ideas for any of the categories listed that you leave a comment below. I would love to hear of your favourite Free From hot spots. Who deserves recognition for providing delicious food in an environment that you love & trust?

Also why not let your favourite cafe/restaurant etc know about The Free From Eating Out Awards 2015… they might not even know about it! They do not have to be solely a Gluten Free Restaurant for instance, they just need to offer a certain amount of dishes & have great Free From knowledge! Click here for the entry rules.

If you want to have a look at the 2014 winners and runners up of The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards then click here, you might even find some places you haven’t even tried!

I loved reading and researching all those shortlisted last year & eating at some of them too! It really is a great way to celebrate the positives of the Free From Eating Out industry. The positives are so often overlooked, (especially online) & we are often too quick to shout about establishments that have done a bad job. The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards is the perfect way to find out about whats great… whats positive… whats fabulous, in terms of eating out on any free from diet.

As I said, leave a comment below with your favourite free from places to eat out… whether that be for gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, nut free, soya free, egg free… etc or a combination of many!

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards 2015 - Open for Entries!

Gluten Free Recall: There"s GLUTEN in Free From Products??

So suddenly Gluten Free Recall is the big topic of conversation. How can so many supermarkets & brands get this so wrong. Everyone makes mistakes but this is a mistake that will make a massive difference to a lot of people. This is surely not ok, right? Lets get some discussion going all in one place… First things first, who is involved this time?

 1) Sainsburys

 2) Tesco

 3) Asda

 4) Genius & Livwell

 So how do you feel about this? We all know that human error occurs in life & mistakes can be made. But how could this really happen? How could so many people who are part of the food manufacturing journey miss this? Have you been affected by this or know somebody who has?

Get your comments written down below & lets get the discussion going. & make sure you SHARE this post around if you know anyone who might be affected, they need to know & I would love to know their thoughts too.

As individuals we sadly make very little difference, but as a whole we can make a difference. We need to let these brands know how we feel & make sure mistakes like this are impossible.

Thanks for reading & hope nobody has been affected by this,

Becky xxx

Gluten Free Recall: There"s GLUTEN in Free From Products??

A Gluten Free Bread Maker? Zero Gluten Baker.

A Gluten Free Bread Maker? Surely not… I discovered the Zero Gluten Baker last year & have wanted one ever since. Now I’ve finally got one… I thought I would share it with you…

I thought it would be nice to start the gluten free bread maker adventure at stage one… unboxing it! So here is a unboxing video where I get to know my Zero Gluten Baker for the very first time!

I feel like I have had quite a ‘journey’ with gluten free bread over the years. Remember all the gluten free tightly sealed bread of the past.. that I always said tasted ‘gluten free’. Well, that still exists, but now we have much more choice on the supermarket shelves in terms of gluten free bread. There is no denying that the gluten free bread we can buy these days is 100 times better than 5 years ago; however, it is incredibly expensive & still has it’s flaws in comparison to regular bread.

We are very limited in the types of bread we can get in regular supermarkets. Gluten Free bread is usually prepackaged & very limited in range. If you ever venture into the regular bread section you will see so many different types of bread that you have probably never even tried…

There are some amazing independent brands and local shops that do provide gluten free bread but they are few & far between. I want to be able to eat Brioche, Ciabatta & Foccacia. I want to be able to eat delicious sweet breads. But without travelling & paying over the odds, this is difficult.

Last year at the Allergy & Free From Show North in Liverpool, I came across a solution. The Zero Gluten Baker is a gluten free bread maker. Now, I don’t know if you have tried to make gluten free bread in a regular bread maker; but personally for me, it is a tricky process & I never got it right. It wasn’t worth the time, effort & money of buying the ingredients… in fact, supermarket gluten free bread tasted better.

So, you can imagine my absolute joy & excitement when I came across a gluten free bread maker! They were giving out samples of the freshly baked bread from the Zero Gluten Baker at the Allergy Show & I was incredibly impressed. I instantly wanted one.

That was in late October, & it is now June. So I guess you could say I didn’t want one that badly… well you would be wrong. When living in a flat with limited space & a smaller than I would like bank account… priorities are important! However, despite the fact 8 months on I have no more space, I decided to take the plunge. I mean, the amount of money I have spent on gluten free bread in supermarkets since last October is not worth thinking about!

Anyway, so now I have a Zero Gluten Baker, the first uniquely gluten free bread maker! I also have a recipe book for it, with a ton of mouthwatering pictures (I love bread A LOT!). & I can’t wait to get started! I want to take you along with me on the gluten free bread maker ride. I thought it would be nice for others to see my thoughts and experiences using it! The video at the top of the page is an unboxing video so you can see what you get inside the box. You can also watch the video by clicking here.

Fresh, healthy, delicious home baked bread is worth everything to me, so I am very, very excited.

How do you get on making your own home baked gluten free bread? Do you do it regularly or do you buy it in the supermarkets? Or do you not eat bread… why? Let me know your thoughts on everything bread in the comments below. Or leave a comment on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

A Gluten Free Bread Maker? Zero Gluten Baker.

REVIEW: Coori - Gluten Free Filled Pasta (Tortellini & Ravioli)

It has been a very long time since I have eaten filled pasta. I very rarely see a Gluten Free Filled Pasta in shops or restaurants. However, Coori have created a fresh Gluten Free Ravioli & Gluten Free Tortellini… I just had to try them!

So a couple of weeks ago I was having a flick through The Grocer & noticed mention of a brand new Gluten Free company, Coori, trying to make it’s way to market. I immediately checked out Coori’s website to see what products they were to provide & maybe grab a few for myself.

Coori was set up by Julia, a gluten intolerant herself. Julia believes that you can only truly enjoy your meal if you’re totally confident that it is safe for you to eat. Her aim? To give freedom back to the consumer. I felt I could really relate to her views & hoped that my taste buds could relate to the gluten free offerings from Coori too!

Coori do a wide range of different foods that are suitable for a wide range of different free from diets. On this occasion I went for the Gluten Free Pasta! I went for Gluten Free Tortellini & Gluten Free Ravioli. Both tortellini & ravioli I have not consumed in many, many years, so I was incredibly excited at the prospect! Oh, & a final note on both pastas before I give you a little insight into their tastes & textures… both are FRESH pasta & both are made in Emilia Romagna… a region of Northern Italy. This is true Gluten Free Italian grub!

Gluten Free Tortellini filled with Ham & Cheese

Both of the pastas I tried are fresh & so take very little time to cook. The Tortellini is filled with parma ham, mortadella & parmesan cheese. Pretty much all I can say to this is… what a combination! Upon opening the packet the smells that come out are amazing. As with all fresh filled pasta, it was incredibly quick & easy to cook. I decided to cook mine with some of the red pepper pesto that came with my pasta. (The pesto is gluten free, dairy free & nut free!) It was a delicious lunch. Every piece of pasta was generously filled with plenty of the Italian meats & the strength of the parmesan was the perfect combination. For me, eating this delicious gluten free filled pasta was a dream come true… one of my favourite new gluten free products of the year so far. I will definitely be buying this again, and again. I guess my only negative is that it isn’t dairy free which means Mark cannot enjoy it. I hope with so many dairy free cheese developments that companies will start to consider using dairy free cheese one day too!

Gluten Free Ravioli filled with Spinach & Ricotta

I was looking forward to trying the spinach & ricotta ravioli the most. I mean, even as a young, fussy eating schoolgirl, who wasn’t a fan of her greens, I still used to enjoy some spinach & ricotta ravioli! I decided with the ravioli I would just cook it gently in boiling water for 3 minutes rather than in a sauce. I’ve always thought that a good ravioli only needs a sprinkling of cheese on top to complete it… how right was I! The spinach & ricotta filling was incredibly flavoursome. The amount of filling in each piece was plentiful; the pasta was the perfect texture. I had this for another lunch one day last week & it really was hard to decide whether I enjoyed this, or the tortellini more! Both were amazing. I did also try out this gluten free ravioli with the red pepper pesto & I must say it worked great. I wasn’t sure about having it on it, but I would highly recommend trying the ravioli both ways… or however you enjoy eating it. You won’t be disappointed. 

I have to admit the gluten free filled pasta I tried from Coori has to be one of my favourite gluten free products of 2015. It is exceptional. It is so refreshing to be able to finally eat a food I love so much once more that doesn’t involve me having to get the pasta maker out the cupboard. This is quick, high quality food. If you have been missing the likes of ravioli & tortellini, living on a gluten free diet I would definitely recommend it. I truly believe even those who do eat gluten would not taste a difference, & would equally enjoy it. I would also say, try out the Pesto, it is the best tasting pesto I have had in a very long time!

Where can I get Coori’s Gluten Free Filled Pasta?

You can check out the Coori website where you will find loads of great information & the online shop by clicking here. Do you miss gluten free filled pasta? What are your favourite fillings? Have you tried Coori’s gluten free ravioli or tortellini? Let me know by leaving a comment below or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

REVIEW: Coori - Gluten Free Filled Pasta (Tortellini & Ravioli)

REVIEW: New Found Joy - Gluten Free Cakes

Gluten Free Foods I am starting to find often taste better than their evil Gluten Filled Cousins. Small Gluten Free Brands, like New Found Joy take time to source great ingredients & sprinkle a whole lot of love into the baking process too!

New Found Joy (or as I continue to call them ‘New Found Glory‘ after a certain band I used to listen to!), is a Gluten Free Company based in Northern Ireland. They create a wide selection of Prepackaged Gluten Free Bakes. The choice is so much more extensive than anything we see in the likes of Costa, Starbucks, Caffe Nero etc. When I see New Found Joy’s Gluten Free offerings it seems almost disgraceful that all we are offered is most places is a dry, tasteless gluten free brownie. If coffee shops can’t create their own tasty versions… why not stock New Found Joy? Anyway, I guess you want to know about a few of New Found Joy’s heavenly Gluten Free treats…

1. Gluten Free Caramel Square

Frickin love a Caramel Slice… who doesn’t?! Well I found the New Found Joy Caramel Slice better than any I once had when I could eat gluten. Whilst the base is quite crumbly, it really does melt in the mouth and tastes delicious, almost like shortbread. Unlike most caramel slices that lack enough of the middle layer, these have tons of delicious caramel that almost oozes out with each bite. The three layers combined create an all mighty party on my tastebuds. A definite favourite in my belly!

2. Gluten Free Diana Delight

I was really excited to try the Diana Delight & like you (I’m guessing), I was fairly clueless as to what it is. Anything creamy coloured screams white chocolate at me… I was right! But even better than just white chocolate, beneath the white chocolate top its all coconut… I love coconut! For good measure, colour & flavour they also added some colourful marshmallows. This is definite my favourite of the New Found Joy Gluten Free bakes… I have no idea why I have never come across this combination before.. it’s great!

3. Gluten Free Rocky Road

As always a rocky road is a delicious, messy masterpiece. Crunchy biscuit, surrounded by a ton of thick indulgent chocolate & marshmallows. I am not the biggest fan of sultanas, I really wish sultanas were not in a rocky road… do they have to be?! Either way, this rocky road was the perfect size for a morning snack alongside a hot drink. I love rocky road for it’s mix of textures & I really do think this would be an amazing gluten free addition to any coffee shop or cafe.

4. Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie

So finally I came on to the Gluten Free Brownie. The choice gluten free product from those behind every chain coffee shop in the UK. But NOT the choice gluten free product for the customers of these coffee shops. This chocolate brownie from New Found Joy is definitely superior to any in the chain coffee shops, I would much prefer this any day. Its moist & very chocolatey! My favourite way to eat a chocolate brownie is warmed up, broken up & served with dairy free ice cream… of course this made the New Found Joy Gluten Free brownie even better! In my opinion brownies shouldn’t be eaten any other way!

So why, when prepackaged gluten free cakes can clearly be varied and delicious, can the chain cafes not get it right? It really is disappointing. Eating out for those with Coeliac Disease or a gluten intolerance can be a tricky experience; finding something to eat at all isn’t always the easiest, so when you do… you want it to taste good. New Found Joy certainly do not compromise on taste with their gluten free & wheat free goodies. It really would be great to see them stocked in cafes, coffee shops, theatres, public transport (trains, aeroplanes), museums, theme parks etc. We all deserve good tasting food, wherever we are!

Where can YOU get New Found Joy Products?

Have you ever tried New Found Joy products? If you haven’t, why not follow them on Twitter & let them know that you really want to! They can provide you with where you can get them, close to you! What do you think of the offerings that the chain coffee shops & cafes provide in the way of gluten free cakes? Let me know by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

REVIEW: New Found Joy - Gluten Free Cakes