The perfect gluten free Scone recipe!!

Baking gluten free scones for the first time yesterday I took a bit of a chance picking a recipe, but it turned out to the be the tastiest and easiest recipe ever!! So here it is.....

With thanks to: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/member-recipes/Gluten-Free%20Scones/3483

Ingredients:

175g gluten free self raising flour (I used Doves Farm)

50g ground almonds

large pinch salt

50g butter or hard marg (I used butter)

125ml milk

Method:

Preheat the oven to 200C.

Sift the flour and the salt into a bowl, then stir in the ground almonds.

Add the butter or marg and rub together until it looks like fine breadcrumbs.

Slowly, mixing with the back of a knife, add the milk until a soft dough is formed.

Bring together  and gently knead in the bowl.

Turn out onto a lightly floured board, roll out to about 1.5inches thick, cut into circles with a cutter (I made mini ones) and place on a lightly greased baking tray.

Repeat until the dough is used. Bake for 10-15mins until golden brown and serve immediately.

Alternatively, cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container for up to 24 hours or freeze for up to a month.

Serve with jam and clotted cream for a delicious treat...!

My first gluten free Afternoon Tea!

I have always enjoyed a good Afternoon Tea, especially indulging in scones covered in jam and clotted cream, so since being diagnosed it's really been something I've missed.

Today for Mother's Day I thought I'd experiment and I made a gluten free Afternoon Tea for my family.

My first tier consisted of salmon &  chive philli sandwiches and ham & cucumber sandwiches (warburtons brown bread)

My second tier was for my home baked scones - the first time I've made them and boy were they good! How I've missed them!

My third was for lemon drizzle squares and brownie squares.

All went down very well and definately wishing I'd made more scones!

Lunch idea #1

I've always found it hard since being diagnosed to come up with good ideas for lunches, especially at work as you have to prepare in advance. So if you struggle with thinking of yummy things to eat at lunchtime then this may help, I just mixed up a bit of a random mix of things but I've tested it and it's super yum!!

Here's what is in my salad:

Chorizo sausage

Diced chicken breast

Onion (probably better with red onion but I didn't have one!) *Cook the chicken and onion in the chorizo juices*

Butter beans
Cherry tomatoes

Spinach

For a bit of a dressing I mixed some lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper together and mixed in.

New Recipe - Sticky Marshmallow Gingerbread Cake

Ingreds

100g soft marg

3tbsp golden syrup

1/4 pt boiling water

225g gluten free self-raising flour, sieved

2 tsp ground ginger

1tsp bicarbonate of soda

100g dark brown sugar

340g marshmallows

50g plain choc melted

Method

Preheat oven 170C. Grease and line a 7 x 11 in. (18 x 28cm) baking tin

Combine margarine and golden syrup and pour over the boiling water. Stir until margarine melts.

Mix flour, ginger, bicarbonate of soda and sugar. Make a well in the centre and pour in the liquid ingredients. Beat until smooth.

Pour into the tin and bake for about 35 minutes or until the top springs back to the touch. Leave in the tin.

Arrange marshmallows on top of the cake and leave to stand until beginning to melt.

 Preheat the grill. Grill the top of the cake, until the marshmallows brown lightly. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Allow to set before cutting into squares with a knife dipped in hot water.

Chocoholic!

One thing you can definately still enjoy while not eating gluten is... chocolate! Phew!

My recommended safe products for those with a sweet tooth!:

1. Prewett's Triple Choc Cookies

2. Rolo Chocolate & Toffee Desserts

3. Sunstart Caramel Shortcake Slices

4. Tesco Free From Choc Steamed Puddings

5. Extremely Chocolately Homemade Brownies

See below for my favourite recipe by Annabel Karmel - not aimed at us gluten free-ers but if you simply replace the flour with gluten free plain flour they make fabulous chunky chocolate treats!! Scrumptious!

http://family.go.com/food/recipe-ak-836894-glossy-dark-and-white-chocolate-brownies-t/

My top 5 comfort dinners with gluten free replacements...

1. The Black Farmer's Premium Pork Sausages

Truly the best sausages I have ever tasted - I wouldn't go back to gluten-full sausages any day after trying these, even if I could - and neither would my gluten eating family!! Packed full of pure high quality meat and no nasties!!

Means I can still eat my favourite dinner of sausages mash and beans - the perfect comfort food!

2. Young's Gluten Free Fish Fingers

A perfect swap for those gluten covered fish fingers - just as tasty!

3. DS Gluten Free Pizza

No more Dominos or Pizza Hut? Don't worry 'cause DS do a great oven pizza (can't wait to try the garlic bread!)

4. DS Gluten Free Sausage Rolls

 Great for dinner - or chop in half for a party food substitute!

5. Spag Bol with gluten free spaghetti

My top 5 restaurants...

1. Da Niccola

One for when you're planning a trip to Madrid - my most favourite restaurant! Da Niccola does amazing gluten free pizza (also pasta etc but I always go for the pizza as it is so rare!), the best part is that they also do gluten free rolls - which are the best gluten free rolls I have ever tried - complete with olive oil and vinegar to dip - simply divine!! Also extremely friendly staff and brilliant service, and they will provide you with an entire gluten free menu stuffed with goodies.

2. Carluccio's 

The first restaurant I discovered to do gluten free pasta -  my favourite being the Pasta Giardinniera, their risottos are also gluten free and they do a gorgeous flourless chocolate dessert with kahlua and ice cream! They will also provide you with your own gluten free menu.

3. Zen Noodle

My all time favourite for gf chinese!! Here they can provide you with a list of gf options - which includes noodles and spring rolls yumyum!! They are only based in Chelmsford and Bury St Edmunds but if you are ever near these areas they are totally worth a visit!!

4. Wagamama

Possibly the most tolerant restaurant of gluten free eaters - they will happily stand there for as long as you need explaining what you can and can't eat/ what can be replaced etc. Extremely tolerant and friendly staff willing to go out of their way to cater to your needs - even bringing you sauce testers!

5. Zizzi

 Zizzi can provide you with an allergy/intolerance menu which is pretty handy - they do gluten free pasta which is scrummy - my favourite being the carbonara and adding chicken (it's rare to be able to stuff yourself silly in a restaurant so I take this opportunity to do so!) Their risottos are gluten free and they also do a great flourless choc dessert.