More than Gluten

So I got tested privately the other day for food allergies/intolerance. No big surprise that wheat came up but the others have taken some getting used to.

Cows milk and cheese, yeast and caffeine came up too! Caffeine I don't drink anyway so that's fine. Yeast and its related stuff is going to be a tough one to cut out I think.

The alternatives to milk I am actually preferring and enjoying. BUT no chocolate! After two days its already killing me!

I feel like I have actually gone through some of the stages of grief... despair, denial, anger... almost acceptance hehe.

I don't think I'll have a problem with cutting out dairy, its just the yeast. Its in things I had no idea it was in and reduces my gluten free options too.

I'll get there just like I did with gluten. I think the best thing for me to do is eat natural, raw products as much as I can.

Any help and suggestions would be great. Like is there a bread out there I can actually eat? Where do I buy carob from? I need some kind of chocolate replacement NEED! Hehe

Adsa GF brownie mix

I'm working my way through the new Asda range. The cake mix was a success and so are the brownies!

I added white chocolate chips but it does have milk chocolate ones in there already... I just love chocolate hehe.

They went down well. Made them yesterday evening and there are only 4 left this morning.

Light and fluffy but perfectly gooey like a good brownie should be :) really nice flavour as well. I'm always impressed when a GF cake doesn't taste gluten free.

I'm very impressed with Asda and their new range. Really seem to be trying to improve and expand their range.

Adsa GF cake mix with a facelift

Another cake made with the Asda cake mix. Decided to add chocolate fudge frosting and make it three layers.

I used 2 boxes and divided it into three. Covered each layer and then the whole cake in the frosting.

It was a hit :) excellent cake mix for a quick and easy GF cake. So spongy and hold its shape unlike some mixes which have been crumbly. Lovely taste too!

La Tasca revisited

Went back to La Tasca. Such a lovely place, stress free and gluten free :) perfect!

I usually skip dessert at restaurants because all I can usually have is the ice cream, but I thought I would have a look. My gosh the choice! No separate menu or bits taken off to make it GF. Just there on the menu for everyone. I was so happy!

I got a chocolate and toffee tart and my boyfriend got a chocolate pudding that was all gooey in the middle. I kept saying... 'are you sure this is gluten free?' I was amazed at how good it was and no fuss at all... that's the best bit for me. It can be a trauma eating out at times.

Another excellent La Tasca experience :)

Asda GF cake mix

I don't usually use pre made cake mixes but my gluten free cake making has been rather hit and miss so
I thought I would give it a try.

Asda seem to have had a bit of a gluten free section revival, lots of new things added. They also had chocolate brownie mix which will be next on the list of things to try.

So this cake mix was £1.80 which I thought was pretty good. I then realised it would make a tiny cake... who wants a tiny cake!? Not me, so I bought another box. I found one box made enough mix to fill an 8 inch cake tin.

I put raspberry jam and vanilla frosting in mine. The warm weather made it a little melty but it turned out well. The cake itself was so light and fluffy. My non-gluten free family were amazed at the flavour. 
Very scrummy!

Half the cake was gone before I knew it... the rest went into the fridge so it would stop melting in this weather.

I would definitely recommend this cake mix... but buy a box per cake layer.

GF stuffing with a twist

Ingredients

1 cranberry and blueberry gluten free muffin
4 gluten free sausages skinned
1 onion
3 cloves garlic
2 rashers streaky bacon
Salt and pepper
Garlic infused olive oil for texture

Blend together in a food processor. We cooked ours in an oven dish so it came out almost like meatloaf. I love crispy bits so I like it all toasty on top.

The reason for the muffin was because we didn't have any gluten free bread and thought why not. Excellent idea from my boyfriend. It was actually amazing!

You can see a slice in the picture of my roast :)

Pizza Express

Went to Pizza Express and was greeted by a very helpful waitress. She showed me all of the gluten free options.

I liked being able to see the kitchen area. It made me feel reassured that the gluten free pizza was kept separate aaaaand the flour used to work the normal pizza dough is gluten free to help prevent cross contamination! Very impressed.

My pizza arrived and it tastes so good! My boyfriend tried a bit and said it tasted great. It felt so good being able to eat pizza in a restaurant.

Also got the brownie and hot chocolate... I couldn't resist. It was gooey and rich and amazing! I understand why its a small piece.

The waitress and I chatted about how good the GF pizza was. She said the staff often choose the GF one because it tastes so good :) a very good experience for me.

Happy happy happy :)