3 Delicious Ways to Enjoy Alpro"s Coconut & Almond Milk

Recently I discovered that Alpro have brought out a new dairy alternative… Coconut & Almond Milk. I am a regular Coconut Milk user & have Almond Milk with my cereal so I was very up for giving this a try. Here are a few of the ways I used it & my thoughts:

1) Smoothie (& not just any smoothie either!)

Alpro Coconut & Almond Milk has probably stolen the show as my favourite milk to put in a smoothie. It is incredibly creamy in flavour yet it is low in both fat & sugar. I made a smoothie at the weekend using the milk & adding to it, pear, frozen banana & a tiny scoop of dairy free vanilla ice cream! If you prefer to keep the ice cream out you could instead use a little more frozen banana & a drop of vanilla extract. It was the perfect drink for a sunny afternoon & the coconut & almond milk worked an absolute treat. (I’ll get the full recipe for my Pear, Banana, Vanilla Smoothie up for you in the near future!)

2) Tropical Coconut & Almond Rice Porridge

I have always been a huge porridge fan but sadly cannot tolerate oats. Instead I enjoy using rice flakes to make my porridge. (I totally recommend trying Delicious Alchemy‘s Rice Flakes they are delicious!) I’ve never tried a coconut based milk to make my porridge with but this will certainly not be my last time! The coconut & almond flavours comes through to create an almost tropical flavoured porridge. The milk brings enough flavour to not even need to add any other sweetness to it. However, I couldn’t resist a few pieces of fresh pineapple to keep with the tropical theme. Rice Flakes also make a great ‘rice pudding’ style dessert & with the coconut & almond milk it is heavenly.

3) Cereal

And last but not least, quite simply, Alpro’s Coconut & Almond Milk works a dream with your cereal. It makes even the plainest of cereals feel that little bit more indulgent (without the indulgent nutritional values!). I am a huge fan of Dove’s Farm Gluten Free Cereal Flakes & combined with this milk I have now found my perfect everyday breakfast during the week. It is great to be able to make such a delicious breakfast so quickly!

So…

Overall this is a great little concept from Alpro. I mean, both Almond Milk & Coconut are hot property in the food world at the moment, so to combine this makes sense in more ways than one. The most important way that it makes sense is the flavour. Whilst the coconut provides a really tropical feel to the drink, the almond combines incredibly well to almost tone down the richness, & subtly lighten the flavour up. Once you try it, I guarantee you will know what I mean!

Of course, importantly the coconut & almond drink is also gluten free, dairy free & 100% plant based. It is a milk that is blended to perfection & works really well in the 3 ways I have described above. However, I am pretty sure there a mountain of other ways that you could make the most out of this milk. Pancakes spring to mind for instance… with some caramelised bananas and pineapples… yes please!

Let me know if you have any other suggestions as to how I could best use this milk & how YOU would use it. What did you think of the flavour? Just drop a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

 

3 Delicious Ways to Enjoy Alpro"s Coconut & Almond Milk

My IBS Diary Week 1 Update

Welcome to My IBS Diary Week 1! I hope you enjoy it, & make sure you subscribe to me (for free!) to be notified of more IBS & Gluten Free Videos every week!

As you might of seen in my previous post on my IBS solution, (fingers crossed!) & also my video on the same topic; I have turned to something else to help my IBS pains. I have turned to Symprove! Symprove is a probiotic. Unlike other probiotics it is a water-based multi-strain supplement that contains 4 unique strains of live activated bacteria. To find out more as to why I decided to try Symprove out, please take a look at my first post on Symprove (Click here!).

So basically I thought I would do a little diary upon completing each week of my Symprove journey! I don’t expect fast progress… or any for that matter. I just live in hope that this might just be the answer! Each week I will also talk about different things to do with my IBS, so comment below if you have any questions. So what better place to start than WEEK 1!

Week One

So week 1 was a bit of a different one for me as I have been having a week at my parents house to celebrate my brothers 21st birthday & generally just relax! I brought bottle number 1 of Symprove with me & have taken it every single morning before I do anything. (You must always wait at least 10 minutes before eating anything after taking it)

Day 1 - Well I guess all I have to report today is that… it didn’t taste bad! I really thought it was going to taste awful! I never like the idea of taking a ‘new liquid’ for the first time! It just reminds me of not wanting to take medicine as a child (sorry Mum for refusing to open my mouth so many times!) I actually quite like the taste of Symprove, I think we are going to be good friends!

Day 2 - Again another tasty Symprove start to the day, no changes from usual today, but it is very early days!

Day 3 – My stomach has started to become quite noisy, it feels like things are happening. This is exciting as I have a very slow moving digestive system… I’m sure IBS-C sufferers will sympathise with this! My stomach never seems to get moving and it needs a boost. I am hoping that the increase in good & balanced bacteria that Symprove should help with will see me taking more regular trips to the toilet!

Day 4 - As if like magic, I actually was able to go to the toilet this morning. I feel better in the stomach today after that, & don’t feel so heavy/lethargic. The gurgling stomach is still there, I’m just taking this as a good thing!

Day 5 - I have seen a pattern over the last few days, I seem to be more hungry. This is rare for me, I really do eat 99% of the time when I am not hungry, simply because my food never seems to break down and leave my stomach. It is a great feeling to sit down to a big dinner with my tummy rumbling!

Day 6 - So today I have had a few pains and some bloating (nothing worse than my regular… which is pretty bad). I woke up not feeling so great. However, in terms of positives I was able to each lunch today without the pain getting any worse. Most days I can get a bit down after lunch due to the bloating pains increasing madly, today it was a little better.

Day 7 – Suffering a little after a bit of a bad food day on my part. 

Overall IBS Diary Week 1…

So with Week 1 over, I can safely say that I will definitely be continuing with Symprove! I didn’t expect to even feel 1% different in a week, however I have felt some changes which is definitely a good thing. I can’t wait to get started on Week 2 & beyond! 

These posts and videos are going to vary each week. I plan on giving updates on how I’m feeling and also show you what I am up to. I might show you what I’m eating if it’s exciting enough! Let me know what you think & how your IBS is treating you this week. If you have any questions you can leave a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for watching and reading,

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my Gluten Free Videos, you can by CLICKING HERE! (It’s Completely FREE & Gluten Free!)

Becky xxx

 

 

My IBS Diary Week 1 Update

Gluten Free is coming to Iceland Foods!

So it would seem that Iceland Foods are following the many other supermarkets in providing a Gluten Free range! But, where are they heading first on their Gluten Free journey? Ireland! However, keep your eyes peeled for Iceland’s Gluten Free range in a store near you in the future! 

Iceland Foods are renowned for their frozen food ranges at extremely low prices. But until now they have not provided an actual Gluten Free Range. Some of their products have been naturally Gluten Free, but not made specifically for a Gluten Free diet.

Do YOU shop at Iceland? If you do… what do you think of Iceland’s move into the Gluten Free market? If you don’t… would YOU consider choosing to shop at Iceland once these products become available in a store close to you?

Of course for now Iceland’s Gluten Free Range is only available in Ireland. But we don’t imagine this to last too long. The UK market is too lucrative for Iceland to hold back on… it’s only a matter of time!

So… what sorts of products are in the Gluten Free Range at Iceland?

1) Goodfella’s Gluten Free Pizza

So Goodfella’s are getting involved in the Gluten Free market now. I can’t wait to try these! Having spoken to the folks at Goodfella’s I can confirm we are going to getting our hands on these gluten free pizzas in the UK in the not too distant future!

2) Big Al’s Kitchen Gluten Free Chicken Goujons

These look delicious and look to be the perfect addition to any freezer! The perfect gluten free option when you haven’t had the chance to get anything else in, they’re quick and easy… just what Iceland wants to be!

3) Dohertys Gluten Free Sausages, Burgers and Meatballs

So you can already get Dohertys Gluten Free Sausages in some Asda stores, but it is great to also be able to get meatballs (something you can never easily find gluten free). I know buying frozen isn’t for everyone but sometimes it is an easy option that just makes sense.

So…

There you have it, Iceland are moving into the Gluten Free market. It will be interesting to see if they make any of their own branded products gluten free. Iceland pride themselves on their own brand ranges such as their party food. Could Iceland bring out a Gluten Free Party Food Range? Watch this space I guess!

As I said, Iceland’s Gluten Free Range is only available in Ireland at present. I know so many people want to get their hands on it… I’m sure it isn’t far away now! I know for sure that Goodfella’s Gluten Free Pizzas will definitely be coming across the Irish Sea in the not too distant future!

Let me know what you think of this news from Iceland. If you are from Ireland, why not less us know what you think, having tried the new range! Leave a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

Gluten Free is coming to Iceland Foods!

#1 Is this the cure for my IBS?

IBS has been the pain of my life for a long time now. Here is my first video all about my IBS & my new, hopeful solution! Please head over to my YouTube Channel & Subscribe to follow my journey! (It’s Free, oh & Gluten Free!)

As you might have seen in my previous post on my struggles with IBS (click here if not), I have been looking for a solution for the problem. I don’t want a pain killer. I want something to help it improve! Above you will see that this video is the first of a series of videos on trying to tackle my IBS. 

I am trying out a new active, water-based probiotic for a minimum of 12 weeks. It would be great if you could come on the journey with me!

To watch my IBS videos as well as a whole host of Gluten Free Videos I put up, please click here & subscribe. It would mean the world to me, & hopefully it will make you smile & be really helpful! Let me know your thoughts over on YouTube, or by leaving a comment below!

Thanks for watching,

Becky xxx

#1 Is this the cure for my IBS?

My IBS (hopeful) Solution... Symprove!

Irritable Bowel Syndrome has been a part of my life for far too many years now. I am determined to try out anything that will help my stomach cope better. I don’t just want a pain relief, I want to try out something that will help my gut bacteria balance… so I am going to try out Symprove.

Click here to view my FIRST IBS SOLUTION VIDEO

My IBS Life, every single day!

I have been struggling with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for a number of years now. It is such a pain on a regular basis & I find it is the one thing that I cannot 100% manage. My Gluten Intolerance is a very manageable issue, I feel in control of that, because I am simply very careful never to eat gluten. My IBS on the other hand, has a vast array of triggers which I find much harder to control. Therefore, IBS really can affect my life on a daily basis, in one way or another.

My gluten intolerance & IBS, I believe, both arose due to that lovely little thing known as stress. Before I had any digestive issues I truly believed ‘stress’ was nonsense. However, I can safely say that stress is a nasty piece of work which really can affect your gut in a big way.

Stress gives me stomach cramps, bloating & I also seem to find it a lot harder to tolerate certain foods. The list of foods that my body fails to tolerate seems to have grown extensively over the past 5 years or so, to the point where I really do just look like a fussy eater. If I am honest, if it was only gluten I couldn’t eat I would be so happy, I just can’t deal with the long list of other foods!

For example (this is a list accurate for my stomach in July 2015):

• All forms of gluten & anything containing gluten (obviously)


• Oats (so porridge, oat biscuits, flapjacks are all out)


• Alcohol 


• Caffeine 


• Legumes (Beans, Lentils, Peas)


• Onions (The DEVIL!)


• Mushrooms & sweetcorn


• Lettuce (yeah salad is also out for me)


• ALL green vegetables (except courgette)


• Dried fruit


• Fruit (especially ones with skin, seeds & higher sugar content)


• High sugar foods (condiments are out.. no ketchup or BBQ sauce)


• Tomato can also set it off


• Sorbitol containing foods

And that is just off the top of my head! Consuming any of the foods listed for me personally is just not going to end well. As you can imagine, I get used to it, but when I go out for a meal or visit someone, it can be quite a test for them & me.

I have been to the doctor, had scans etc, been given loads of medication to help reduce the pain and bloating (some works better than others)… BUT… I don’t want pain relief, ultimately I want to solve the problem, not cover it up.

To me it has always felt like I don’t have the right digestive enzymes, or rather, as I have now read about, the correct balance of bacteria in my gut. Surely if I could balance my gut bacteria, my IBS symptoms could at least be slightly reduced? I have tried a number of probiotics in the past, but have failed to see any long term results. I had all but given up, until the other day…

Mark has been taking Symprove on & off for the past couple of years. He has seen improvements when using it, but then got lazy & stopped! (Don’t ask me why if you see improvements!!) Anyway we have both decided to give Symprove a go now, for real, nothing half arsed… and see how we get on.

So… what is Symprove? 

Symprove is a water-based multi-strain supplement that contains 4 unique strains of live activated bacteria. These include:  L. rhamnosus, E. faecium, L. acidophilus, and L. plantarum. Normally a healthy gut would already contain all four of these, however when it doesn’t, it can soon become unbalanced. I thought this video was really useful:

Other probiotics I have tried in the past have been either within a dairy product or as a tablet. These I now realise get destroyed too much before reaching the part of the gut that needs them. However, Symprove, being water based (containing live and active bacteria) does not get destroyed and gets exactly where it needs to. I thought this diagram explained everything better than I could to. Basically, for any probiotic to be effective in restoring the balance of bacteria in your gut, it has to do 3 simple things:

Symprove really interests me, & intrigues me. I am prepared to try anything if it will help my stomach out & thus make me a happier human being! I am going to try out the Symprove 12 Week Challenge.. I understand there are no quick fixes when it comes to restoring the balance of bacteria in my gut. It has been so bad for so long… 12 weeks doesn’t even seem a long time! I thought I would take you on that journey with me with a combination of posts & video updates on my YouTube Channel (Click here to view my Gluten Free Videos).

If Symprove helps my IBS you will never hear the end of me raving about it! I am excited! Live bacteria.. get in my belly & balance! 

It would be great to hear stories from others if you have ever tried Symprove or other probiotics. Every person who suffers with IBS will have slightly different issues to the next person, so I guess probiotics will effect different people in a different way. Oh & also feel free to leave any comments about your IBS problems or success stories below as a comment, or on Facebook/Twitter. It is better to deal with issues together than apart.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

My IBS (hopeful) Solution... Symprove!

16 Things That Happen When You"re Gluten Free

1. You read food ingredients labels at a professional level.

2. Fresh bread is only available in your dreams.

3. Going out for a meal requires a strategic plan.

4. Sharing food is a strict no no.

5. You cannot handle the phrase ‘may contain traces of gluten’.

6. People will ask you if gluten free is some cool, ‘healthy’ diet.

7. You learn your own ways to cope with gluten-filled temptation.

8. You more than appreciate the rare occasion that you find a gluten free restaurant.

9. You become an expert in gluten free cooking.

10. Waiters will greet your requests with complete understanding.

11. You develop a love hate relationship with salad.

13. The price of gluten free products will more than test your personal finances.

14. People will label you as a ‘fussy eater’.

15. You become less and less impressed by gluten free brownies.

16. But on some level you’ll enjoy being gluten free… just make sure nobody else knows that.

16 Things That Happen When You"re Gluten Free

RECIPE: Mum"s Gluten Free Sticky Chicken!

Mum’s Gluten Free Sticky Chicken dish is perfect for any occasion. I especially enjoy it cold as a dish at a summer party/BBQ. Give it a try & you won’t regret it!

Mum’s Sticky Chicken has been an incredibly popular party dish for as long as I can remember. It is perfect as a cold dish at a summer party / BBQ. I adore it alongside all the other homemade dishes she makes… her potato salad especially! You could definitely finish it off on the BBQ as well if you want it a bit more charred. Personally, I love the taste of the ‘sticky’ marinade when its cold the most!

It is super easy marinade to make & of course is gluten free! We always marinade a load of chicken thighs and drumsticks. I hope everyone agrees thigh meat beats dry breast meat every single day of the week!

My Mum recently made a big bowl of gluten free sticky chicken thighs & drumsticks to take to a BBQ a neighbour was having. As per usual it went down a treat and the recipe has been further given out to friends.  Whilst it is easy to just take some burgers & sausages round to a BBQ, everyone does that, so it’s nice to take something different.

I’ve also enjoyed Mum’s gluten free sticky chicken many times for dinner. It is the perfect dinner to prepare before you go to work for the day. Marinade it whilst you’re out & put it in the oven when you get back. It is so simple to enjoy with rice & some veggies or even some homemade sweet potato fries & a salad. Basically it is just a delicious, versatile gluten free dish… & I love it!

Mum"s Gluten Free Sticky Chicken

2015-07-18 14:57:24

A perfect dish to be served cold at a summer party or BBQ. It"s great for all occasions and all times of year. Can be served hot too, but I love it even more cold!

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Ingredients

1. Chicken Thighs
2. Chicken Drumsticks
3. 4 tbsp orange juice
4. 2 tsp tabasco
5. 2 tbsp black treacle
6. 2 tbsp honey (or alternative... agave nectar or sweet freedom)
7. 2 tbsp dijon mustard

Instructions

1. Measure out your orange juice, tabasco, black treacle, honey & mustard into a small bowl.
2. Whisk / mix thoroughly together.
3. Place your chicken thighs and drumsticks into an oven proof dish (we sometimes cook the chicken is 2 separate oven proof dishes to make sure it all gets well cooked and marinaded).
4. Prick all the chicken with a fork so the marinade can get into it as much as possible!
5. Pour the sticky chicken marinade over the chicken & make sure the chicken gets coated (it will likely sit in plenty of the marinade too)
6. Cover the dish with clingfilm & marinade in the fridge ideally over night, but a few hours will still be fine.
7. Place in a preheated oven (180 degrees C) for about 45 minutes.
8. Remove from the oven proof dish & place in another dish to cool down completely. (Leave any of the juices & marinade behind)
9. Keep in the fridge until ready to eat...
10. Enjoy!

Notes

1. You can eat this cold as I have described as a dish at a BBQ/party BUT you can also eat it hot for dinner. We often have this on a day where we need a quick, easy dinner. Marinade it before work & when you come home put it in the oven. Serve with rice or maybe some sweet potato wedges. You might like to keep some of the marinade juices and pour over if eating hot (it tastes great soaked into rice!)

Gluten Free Cuppa Tea - by Free From Food Blogger, Becky, UK. http://glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk/

So there you have it, Mum’s Gluten Free Sticky Chicken. Of course, this dish is naturally gluten free which is even better. I really hope you give it a try, I guarantee everyone will enjoy the delicious flavours of the moist sticky thighs and drumsticks. 

Please let me know if you get the chance to try my Mum’s gluten free sticky chicken. I would love to see some pictures! Also let me know what your favourite marinade for chicken is. I always love to try out some new flavours! Just leave a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading & thanks Mum!

Becky xxx

RECIPE: Mum"s Gluten Free Sticky Chicken!