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 :)

Glutened!

Gah! I got a bit lazy with my label checking... cooked up my gluten free pizza and went to the fridge to find the ketchup. It wasn't the usual ketchup we get but I used it anyway.

Completely my own fault. Need to pay more attention. It could have been easily avoided. Now I have stomach pains, feel bloated and lethargic.

Time to curl up under the duvet!

GF Carrot cake

I became so disheartened when I started eating gluten free and tried to bake using GF flour for the first time. I love to bake and I just couldn't seem to get it right.

Years later and the gluten free flour selection seems to have come a long way! I now use Asda own brand gluten free self raising flour. Its the best I've come across so far.

So here is my second successful gluten free cake, carrot cake.

This is the recipe:

1 cup Asda gluten free self raising flour
1 cup sugar
8oz grated carrot
1tsp gluten free baking powder
1 and 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable or sunflower oil

Stir all dry ingredients together. Mix eggs and oil together and add to dry ingredients. Mix and then stir in the carrots. Put into greased and lined cake tins or into cupcake cases.
Gas mark 5
Cake tins take 35-40 minutes
Cupcakes 15-20 minutes

I cheated and used shop bought vanilla butter cream but its not too difficult to make yourself.

I'm happy now I can bake tasty things again :) just need to get bread and rolls down now

Gluten free cupcake success!

Success! Gluten free chocolate, rum and raisin cupcakes :)

To cheer myself up I thought I would bake. I've attempted gluten free cakes before and they just haven't been right. Either too hard and dense or they just taste gluten free.

This time I used Asda own self raising flour that comes in a yellow packet. Added a little gluten free baking powder too just to make doubly sure it would rise.

They are actually springy and after a thorough taste test (by me and non-gluten free people) I believe I have cracked it :) I wish I could share through the internet!

No results yet

The doctor phoned and read off the results of an old blood test. After correcting himself he asked me to call in a weeks time.

More waiting.

I'm trying to remain positive about this whole process but I'm finding it difficult. Its been going on for so long.

It was my first day back at work today. I found it exhausting and my right shoulder is so painful! So the symptoms persist.

Well chin up! Its only one more week to wait and I am feeling better each day.

Day 6

Today I decided to be more active. All this laying around and doing nothing isn't helping... we now have a slightly tidier cupboard. I should try and work on an essay I need to write but my brain seems to be able to handle less than my body currently.

The crash moments seem to be getting shorter which is good. Down side at the moment is that this change in diet is also making me gain weight quite rapidly it seems. Hopefully that will level out soon.

So today:
- bloated and painful stomach
- heavy limbs especially after eating
- backache
- headache
- crashing out
- lethargic
- queasy
- joints ache

So day 6 was better. I'm still enjoying the taste of all the things I couldn't eat before. Today I had my Shreddies, a croissant and breaded chicken wraps.

Tomorrow is Ramen with real ramen noodles!

Day 4

I'm crashing out after every meal and it seems the more gluten I eat the longer I crash. Breads seem to be the worst. Before when I accidentally ate wheat I would sometimes crash out but this is extreme. I wish I knew if it was normal...

Today I've had Shreddies, cheese and crackers and a burger with onion rings.

Reactions are much of the same:
- heavy limbs
- joints ache, especially wrists
- crashing out
- headache
- bloated
- stomach pains
- lethargic
- fuzzy head
- skin seems paler than normal

I wonder if I will get better/adjust or if I'll just keep crashing out after eating wheat/gluten.

Feeling quite low today... 10 more days to go.

Day 2

I'm quite surprised that I've not had any major stomach issues so far. That's usually what comes first. I seemed to have skipped to the symptoms I get after. Today I've eaten Shreddies, a crusty roll with sausage and gnocchi.

Today its mostly been:
- aching joints
- heavy feeling
- dry mouth after eating
- in and out of sleep all day
- leg/arm muscle aches
- shooting/stabbing pain in belly
- headache
- chest pains

I'm feeling a lot better than I thought I would, just feel wiped out. I can do this!

Gluten free and dairy free snack

My sister found these tasty little snack packs in Morrisons. This one is sweet potato pakora and there was another falafel one. They come with houmous. They had a nice spice to them and lots of flavour.
Not heard of the company before, Great Food, but will look out for them in future. On the go snacks have been the hardest thing to find. Just hope they keep stocking them... sometimes I find something awesome then it disappears.

Best GF sausages

The Asda own brand gluten free sausages are the best around in my opinion. Great taste and texture. The perfect banger to go with mash. My non-GF boyfriend says they are just as good if not better than normal sausages.
Best thing is they are only £1.50!
I have a feeling this blog is going to become me sharing my gluten free finds hehe

The road to diagnosis

Next week I'm eating wheat again after having cut it out for 4 years... I'm terrified to say the least. The doctors want to test me for coeliac disease.
I thought I would start this blog because I've been searching for some info about anyone who may have done something similar but haven't been successful. Now that doesn't mean there aren't people out there... I have to admit I'm not very good with the internet...
So here is a bit about how I got to this point. For years I've suffered with digestive issues and it got to a point where I was getting so ill that I struggled to leave the house at times. I then saw a program on TV about a lady who had similar symptoms, she cut out wheat and it 'cured' her. I thought, well that's worth a try surely. I took myself off to the doctors who said 'sure cut it out for a few months and see if it makes a difference'.
If only I knew then what I know now! I would have asked to be tested before cutting it out. I even went back twice to be sure that what I was doing was okay and both times they said its perfectly healthy and wont do me any harm. Not once did they think to do any tests... bit of a touchy subject for me.
4 years later I learn about coeliacs and its potential long term health problems. I see a dietitian who says I should be tested. After many months of back forth with doctors I finally have a date for a blood test but have to eat gluten again. I've decided I will do it so I know either way what I have.
I'm going to try and keep this blog going as a way of noting down my symptoms day to day.
It all starts Thursday 28th March... Seeing as I'll probably be housebound this will give me something to do hehe
Until next time
xxx