Summary: Creative Food Gluten Free
Wheat Free & Gluten Free Recipes That Are Delicious, and help you get your health back! Easy recipes with photos for every recipe to tantalise your tastebuds.
Article By: Katie “Joy” Gilbert
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Gluten Free Chocolate
I went to my local store yesterday to buy some coffee, and as I
walked in there was a huge rack of Gluten Free
Chocolate and Sugarless Chocolate as you walk in.
Clearly a new product line for this major food chain in
Australia, and wanting to get it in front of the eyes of the
consumers.
Well it got my attention!
With a large variety of flavours to choose from this
gluten free chocolate range, I selected a block
of ‘Cranberries In Dark Chocolate’ and ‘Raspberries In White
Chocolate’. Both are also ‘sugarless’ with ‘no added sugar’
(great for diabetics or blood sugar sensitivities). There was no
price on the rack, which always sets my bells off for suspicion
of a high-end price. It was a fair alarm bell, because at $7.95 a
block it’s a little hefty.
Price for Gluten Free Chocolate
Was the price worth it?
Well, I got home and put the coffee machine on… and although I am
not a huge sweets fan (will go for savoury any time of the day!)
I was so curious that I broke open the packet before my cup of
coffee was ready.
I first took a bite of the ‘Raspberries In White Chocolate’. The
burst of sweetness smacked my tongue. I really didn’t expect it
to taste so sweet! While it contains no sugar, upon checking the
food label on the back, it does contain ‘Maltitol’ as it’s first
ingredient (a sugar alternative).
From Wikipedia:
“Maltitol is a sugar
alcohol (a polyol) used as a sugar substitute. It has 75-90% of the sweetness
of sucrose (table sugar) and nearly identical
properties, except for browning. It is used to replace table
sugar because it has fewer calories, does not promote tooth decay, and has a
somewhat lesser effect on blood glucose. In chemical terms,
maltitol is known as
4-O-α-glucopyranosyl-D-sorbitol.
It is known under trade names such as Maltisorb,
Maltisweet and Lesys.”
The texture of the real raspberries within the white chocolate is
simply divine! Delicious!
Then it was time for a bit of my favourite. Dark chocolate. This
was the ‘Cranberries in Dark Chocolate,’ and was equally as
sweet, but with smaller bits of berries and a more ‘natural’
taste of chocolate (for me).
For both of
these I rate:
Flavour: 9/10
Texture: 9/10
Price: 8/10
Personally, I’d prefer a dash of real sugar any day, and just
enjoy a small piece of chocolate now and then.
The price, while reasonable-to-high for a special food product is
probably even more so because it’s an import to Australia from
Spain.
The company that is marked on the back of this product is
www.sugarlessco.com – in case you’d like more information.
If you try out some of the other flavours of chocolate, please
leave your comment below and let us all know what you think of
this gluten free chocolate! 
Tags:
gluten free chocolate,
gluten free chocolate bar,
gluten free chocolates,
gluten free companiesDate Published: Aug 20, 2011 - 8:09 pm
Contributing Author: Article By Katherine Oosthuis
Have you been advised or decided that you should eat a
gluten free diet? It’s not an impossible
task! With a little knowledge and an open mind to the gluten
free foods available, living gluten free can be enjoyable and
rewarding.
It has become increasingly common to meet people that avoid
or totally eliminated gluten from their diets. Many of them
experience a sensitivity to gluten or suffer from coeliac
disease. If they do eat food that contains gluten, they can
suffer from a variety of symptoms that include bloating,
weight gain or loss, stomach problems, stomach pain and
nausea. The only way to get rid of these symptoms or cure the
problem, is to totally remove gluten from their diets. A
“gluten detox” so to speak.
Remember that a sensitivity to gluten or any other substance
may have an effect on the body, but it doesn’t necessarily
need medical treatment or become life-threatening. A food
intolerance however, may lead to severe reactions or effects
that require medical attention.
Gluten is one of the proteins found in varying levels in
wheat, rye, barley and some other grains. It gives a doughy
or elastic consistency to flours that are made from grains
containing gluten. This traps air in the product and allows
it to rise. As a result, we use these grains extensively in
breads and other baked goods. It is also used in many
processed or manufactured foods, where flour is often added
as a thickening agent or filler. So your first step to living
gluten-free is to start reading product labels! Get to know
which ingredients contain gluten so you can avoid them.
Going “gluten free” or “life without gluten” can be quite a
lifestyle change so here are a few tips to help you.
- Instead of focusing on what you can’t eat, focus on what
you can eat such as naturally gluten-free foods like meats,
vegetables, fruits, nuts and pulses.
- Many health stores, supermarkets and large pharmacies now
stock gluten-free products including ready mixed bread,
cakes, pancakes and muffins. Gluten-free flours and pastas
also easier to find nowadays.
- Good health stores should also stock gluten-free self
raising flour, gluten substitutes and xanthan gum. The last
two products are used to imitate and substitute gluten in
baking, making the end result less crumbly.
- Some processed and specially manufactured premixed
gluten-free products like bread mixes can become quite
expensive, so rather find a store where you can buy the
products and make up your own bread mixes.
- For gluten-free recipes, find a good gluten-free cookbook
or search the Internet, there are many gluten-free websites
and excellent food websites that provide gluten-free recipes
these can also give you ideas to help you develop your own
style of gluten-free cooking.
- You will learn tricks like when baking, flour is often
substituted with polenta, ground almonds, mashed potato or
even mashed sweet potatoes.
- The key is not to become obsessed with what you’re
missing out on, but rather to focus on all the new food and
interesting flavours you can explore and add to diet.
Some people who struggle to lose weight may benefit from a
gluten free diet and limiting
gluten in your diet is something that could benefit many of
us. The total removal of gluten from your diet could lead to
deficiencies in certain micro-nutrients, so consult a doctor
if you are experiencing any symptoms that you think may be
caused by gluten intolerance. It is also recommended that you
see a dietitian before embarking on a total gluten free diet
and lifestyle.
**** **** ****
For more information on health related matters visit Detox For
Life. It was born out of a woman’s concern for her
family’s well-being and health. You are invited to enjoy and
benefit from the wealth of articles and information on all
aspect of health managed and updated here by Katherine
Oosthuis.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2518715
Tags:
a gluten free diet,
celiac disease,
coeliac disease,
gluten free cookbook,
gluten free diet lifestyleDate Published: Aug 13, 2011 - 4:52 pm
Contributing Author: Lillea Woodlyns
One of the challenges when eating gluten free is having
enough food choices that make eating pleasurable.
Potatoes are a wonderfully flexible food to include in a GF
diet. Yes, potatoes are gluten free, but you must be
cautious.
3 Reasons Potatoes Are a Great Choice for GF Diets +
Why You Should Be Cautious
1. Ease of Preparation
Potatoes are simple to prepare, unlike other GF starchy
carbohydrate sources which often require special preparation
to create a pleasing taste.
Simply peel the potatoes, if you like, then slice them up if
appropriate and cook them in the way that you like: boil,
steam, bake, slow cook, fry, microwave, sous-vide, BBQ…
potatoes can be delicious when cooked in every way
imaginable.
2. Highly Digestible
The skin of a potato is the only part that commonly causes
digestive distress.
While the skin has trace nutrients and fiber, the majority of
the nutrient content in a potato is in the flesh, so don’t
worry about discarding the skin, you can get your fiber in
other ways.
Given that people with gluten issues often have a problem
with digestion in one way or another, the more easily
digestible a food is, the better.
3. Nutritious
Potatoes contain decent amounts of minerals, easily digested
carbohydrate and complete protein. Yes, complete! That means
that, unlike most plant foods, potatoes contain the 9
essential amino acids that the body needs.
The protein level is not high per potato, but it can still be
a positive contribution to daily protein intake, particularly
if potatoes are favored over other carbohydrate sources that
don’t contain complete protein.
Caution!
Potatoes in their whole form are gluten free, but watch out
with processed foods that are potato based, including potato
chips. Be sure to check labels for gluten ingredients and any
warnings about possible cross-contamination with gluten foods
in the factory they are processed in. Write/call
manufacturers if in doubt, and also be careful when buying
prepared potato dishes from delis and restaurants. Always ask
to verify that a dish is truly gluten free.
Are potatoes gluten free? You bet! Learn more
about the health benefits of potatoes, benefits and risks,
and where to buy certified gluten free potato flour for
baking at http://www.glutenfreeshoponline.com/gluten-free-diets/potatoes-gluten-free/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lillea_Woodlyns
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Date Published: Jul 11, 2011 - 11:57 pm
One concern that you may have when you start a gluten free menu
in order to rid yourself of unwanted belly fat or to remove
gluten sensitivity symptoms is that following a specialized
diet is too expensive. That’s a valid concern. If you’ve been
to the grocery store lately you can see that many food costs
are on the rise while our income levels are staying, well,
level. I’m all for spending the least amount of money you can
on food so that you can have the resources for the other
important things in your life. However, spending wisely on the
right food choices so that you can experience optimal health is
not only possible, but crucial to an overall healthy lifestyle.
Let me show you why following a gluten free menu may actually
save you some money over what you are eating now.
Many of the foods which contain gluten are packaged and
processed. Because they are wheat or grain based they are the
types of foods that are easily stored in bulk. This makes them
abundant; however, does it make them the best choices for your
health?
Back in 1999 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
estimated that a family of four can eat at home at cost of
$95.00 to $185.00 per week. Over ten years later you can still
do that. The obstacle that most people have is that there are
now so many processed and pre-made food choices and our lives
are hectic so it’s easiest reach for those more expensive type
of meals that do a little planning and cooking on your own.
I would argue that by cooking a few more meals at home you can
have better control over a gluten free menu and a full array of
healthy choices. Making your own stir-fry rather than
purchasing a ready-made frozen variety allows you to be in
control of what goes into your food and what goes into your
body. Have you ever really considered the amount of sodium that
you are ingesting, cumulatively, over the course of a day?
And don’t let the idea of pre-planning or cooking homemade
meals scare you off. It’s amazing how much food you can freeze
or store with the help of a vacuum sealer. If you are making
one pan of spinach lasagna, why not make two and freeze the
second one for later. By removing much of the air during
storage you can keep your gluten free menu choices fresh. They
will be ready to grab and go, just like the stuff that’s in
your grocery freezer aisle; however, you know what’s in your
gluten free homemade meal and it’s better for your body.
Just consider this one easy example. If you love to have banana
bread at breakfast since you no longer need cereal on your
gluten free menu, then you can make several loaves at the same
time and freeze what you are not eating immediately for future
use. If you purchase over ripe bananas at the store they are
usually less expensive and perfect for gluten free banana bread. Once they are
baked and cooled, you can wrap them in wax paper and then seal
in a storage bag or a vacuum sealer. Later, just pull a loaf
from the freezer, defrost and enjoy.
There are also gluten free sources that will sell their
selections for your gluten free menu in bulk, thus reducing the
cost. Be sure to check out the sources for a great banana bread
recipe and ideas on where to buy gluten free food.
Dawn Damico is a Research Diva. With a wide range of interests
she is always ready to dig to the depths of any subject, get to
the meat of it, and then deliver it in a comprehensive manner.
Healthy Living is her passion and that includes Food, Fitness,
Finances, Family and Fun. After discovering all the benefits of
a clean diet with great tasting food choices, she was thrilled
to discover the added benefit of sexy gluten free abs. Discover
more about Gluten Free living and receive a free Gluten Free
Starter Menu by clicking through to: http://WhyBuyGlutenFree.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dawn_Damico
Tags:
a gluten free diet,
gluten free diet,
gluten free diet menu,
gluten free foodDate Published: Mar 20, 2011 - 8:56 pm
Gluten Free Snacks - Raspberry & Apple Muffins
SEVENTEEN Healthy Gluten Free Snacks on the Run
Finding ideas for yummy gluten free snacks can
be a bit of a task, especially when you are new to the gluten
free lifestyle. Or, perhaps you’ve got into your rhythm of
gluten free snacks and meals and now
looking for some new ideas?
Either way, here is a list below of seventeen gluten free
snack ideas you can add to your culinary repertoire:
1. Fruche (Most varieties)
2. Le Rice (Most varieties)
3. Cheese and Rice crackers*
4. Fresh fruit
5. Gluten free muesli bar
6. Beef jerky (home-made)
7. Small can of baked beans* (check label)
8. Small tin of tuna in spring water (most
flavoured varieties contain wheat flour)
9. Rice cakes* with cream cheese and jam;
peanut butter; butter & honey
10. Gluten free muffin – home-made and freeze:
defrosts in a minute! Many stores now provide gluten free
muffins.
11. Sushi – without the soy sauce. Avoid the
teriyaki chicken, crab sticks (imitation, and contain wheat
flour) and marinated meats. Go for salmon, tuna, avocado,
egg.
12. Small dip* (check label. Many varieties are
gluten free) with rice crackers*
13. Hard-boiled egg
14. Vegetable crudités with cottage cheese
15. Plain nacho chips* with salsa*
16. Fresh fruit smoothie
17. Banana milkshake, try adding mango, plain
yoghurt or vanilla ice cream*
‘*’ denotes beware; check the ingredients label
• Rice crackers are not necessarily gluten free. Many
contain wheat or barley in the flavouring. Be sure to read the
ingredients label. If in doubt, search for the packets which
state “Gluten Free”.
• Try the flavoured (gluten free) rice crackers for
dips
• The ‘sea salt’ and ‘cracked pepper’ (SA-KA-TA) are
delicious with cheese
• Rice cakes may contain gluten within the product,
such as barley or may be made on shared equipment with other
foods containing gluten. Check the label.
• There are many varieties of nacho chips on the market.
Guaranteed that most of the flavourings will contain gluten
(unless specified ‘gluten free’) Go for plain nacho chips or corn
chips.
• Many varieties of ice cream are gluten free. If in
doubt go for plain. ALWAYS check the ingredients label. Note:
sorbet’s can often contain wheat.
DISCLAIMER: The information and advice contained on this post is
intended as a general guide to a wheat and gluten free diet and
are not specific to the individuals or their particular
circumstances. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held
responsible for claims arising from the inappropriate use or
misuse of the recommendations in the publication or the failure
to obtain or take appropriate medical advice.
Tags:
gluten free,
gluten free food,
gluten free snacksDate Published: Dec 29, 2010 - 5:02 am
Gluten Free Christmas
With Christmas fast approaching, are you still wondering how to
make some delicious recipes for a gluten free
Christmas?
How about some traditional shortbread – gluten
free?
Or try an Australian favourite, the pavlova (in a fancy log roll
form!)
Delve into the sweetness of White Choc-Cherry Christmas,
Or perhaps you prefer the combination of a sweet-tart Fruit of
the Forrest Cheesecake…
……or simply, the tradition of a gluten free
Christmas cake.
All of these recipes are available as a free bonus eCookbook with
the purchase of “Everyday Meals & Entertaining” (for
online orders only at www.creativefoodglutenfree.com) as a
limited offer ending 24th December 2010!
So be quick, and order your copy of “Everyday Meals & Entertaining” now, and
get your bonus free “Gluten Free Christmas
Sweet Treats” recipe eCookbook instantly!
(Please note, “Everday Meals & Entertaining” is a
physical book, and may take up to 5 business days delivery within
Australia.)
Tags:
gluten free,
gluten free christmas,
gluten free cookbook,
gluten free cookbooks,
gluten free recipesDate Published: Dec 22, 2010 - 2:34 pm
Looking for some gluten free party food ideas?
Coming into the holidays, it is often a bit of a baffle for
family and friends to know what to prepare or cook for their
loved ones who are gluten intolerant.
Heck, it’s often a bit baffling and confusing to the gluten
intolerant also, especially if you are newly diagnosed with
coeliac disease or gluten intolerance, and just now making the
shift to a gluten free diet lifestyle.
So to help you, we’ve listed some gluten free party food
ideas for you to serve up at home, with friends, at a
party, or even as snacks or light meals.
- Cheese* and fruit platter with rice crackers*
- Antipasto platter – mixed marinated vegetables, olives
(beware of some varieties of stuffed olives), dolminades
- Vegetable crudités and plain nacho chips* with a salsa dip* –
Pour 200g Dorritos salsa premix into a small bowl. Add a good
dollop of light sour cream, some finely diced avocado and small
finely diced spring onions. Delicious!
- Garlic Banana or King Prawns (with garlic and butter) on the
BBQ hot plate*
- Mini baked jacket potatoes eg. with sour cream and chives; or
cheese, bacon and sun-dried tomatoes.
- Kebabs – beef, red onion and capsicum; mixed vegetables;
chicken and lime wedges
- Mini frittatas – use gluten free flour and make in patty pan
tins.
- Mini rice cake* pizzas
- Nachos* – spread with cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado,
tomato, red onion and spring onions
- Fruit kebabs – chunks of watermelon, rockmelon, honey dew
melon, strawberries and pineapple
- Mini pavlovas* – dressed with cream, fresh fruit and drizzled
with passion fruit pulp or syrup
- After dinner mints* (check ingredients label)
Some of the ideas above are from the cookbook available on our
website “Everyday Meals & Entertaining”
Here are some more ideas from the cookbook…
- Fudge Brownies
- Field Muschrooms with Bruschetta Topping
- Hazelnut & Raspberry Friands
- Chicken & Prawn Balls
- Cheese, Bacon & Capsicum Fritatta
- Sesame Prawns
- Spicy Wedges
- Meatballs
- Marinated Tofu, Capsicum & Mushroom kebabs
- Raspberry & Apple Muffins
- Vietnamese Fresh Rolls
- Prawn & Avocaado Bites
- Thai Fish Cakes
- Oysters Kilpatrick
- Marshmallows
- Choc Chip Cookies
- Rocky Road
‘*’ denotes beware; check the ingredients label
- Rice cakes may contain gluten within the product, such as
barley or may be made on shared equipment with other foods
containing gluten. Check the label.
- Cheese is usually gluten free. Please check the label as some
varieties, particularly creamed cheeses with added ingredients
can possibly contain gluten.
- Check the hotplate is clean and free of marinade. If in
doubt, cover BBQ hotplate with alfoil or hotplate food cover to
protect against cross-contamination
- Rice crackers are not necessarily gluten free. Many contain
wheat or barley in the flavouring. Be sure to read the
ingredients label. If in doubt, search for the packets which
state “Gluten Free”. My preferred brand is SA-KA-TA.
- Try the flavoured rice crackers for dips
- The ‘sea salt’ and ‘cracked pepper’ (SA-KA-TA) are delicious
with cheese
- There are many varieties of nacho and corn chips on the
market. Go for plain, unless the packet specifies “Gluten Free”.
- Check the packet label for pre-purchased pavlovas. Beware of
icing mixture/sugar. Use PURE 100% icing sugar or gluten free
icing mixture
Have you got value from this blog post?
Please comment below
and ‘share’ with your family and friends!
(at the top of this page, click the social media buttons or
email!)
And remember to click
“LIKE”
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(on the right)
DISCLAIMER: The information and advice contained in this article
for gluten free party food ideas is intended as a
general guide to a wheat and gluten free diet and are not
specific to the individuals or their particular
circumstances.
Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for
claims arising from the inappropriate use or misuse of the
recommendations in the publication or the failure to obtain or
take appropriate medical advice.
Please always read product ingredient labels and consult with
your medical adviser before consuming any food suggested within
this article.
Tags:
gluten free,
gluten free party food,
gluten free party food ideas,
party food ideasDate Published: Dec 20, 2010 - 6:58 pm
Today we have a special contributor from the UK
- Elena Blunsum sharing her experiences with a gluten free diet
and gluten free UK shopping.
Elena Blunsum
First, we have a quick interview with Elena to find out a little
bit about her history with gluten intolerance.
CFGF Team: When did you first discover you were
intolerant to gluten?
Elena Blunsum: I discovered I am gluten
intolerant 12 years ago. At first it was incredibly challenging
on the food front as there were so few gluten free alternatives
avaliable and many of those weren’t very good! I’m so grateful
that this is no longer true!! Then there was the issue of
people’s attitudes and pity that I could no longer eat so many of
the things I loved – a typical comment would be “How awful for
you!!!” “…Why????” I was just delighted to have an answer!! I
didn’t want to eat those things any more, not with the way they
made me feel!!! If eat gluten for 3 days I literally can’t
function! So now it’s just a part of life!!
CFGF Team: What was one of the best moments for
you for turning your health around to being healthy and vibrant
again?
Elena Blunsum: One of my biggest turn arounds
was working with Brian McDonogh at the Eagle Clinic. I
really recommend him! His approach to nutritional medicine
resolved the long term effects on my health of eating gluten!!!
CFGF Team: How would you describe the gluten
free diet for you?
Elena Blunsum: So, for me, a gluten free diet is
fantastic!!!!
Furthermore, here is what else Elena was so excited to share with
our community.
Whether you live in the UK, or about to go on vacation to the UK
here are some wonderful hints and tips she’s delighted to share
to enhance your experience of living with a gluten free diet.
Gluten Free UK – By Elena Blunsum
Gluten Free Food Shopping in the UK has come so far in the last
15 years! It just keeps getting better! In fact, I found a gluten
free Panettone yesterday!
I would say that the best supermarkets for gluten free
UK shopping are Sainsburys
and Tesco with
Waitrose coming 3rd!
I’ve found that the best bread is “Genius” – it comes as white or
brown and doesn’t need to be reheated! If you can’t get that then
Antoinette Saville’s rolls are great – they do need to be
refreshed/reheated and are also delicious toasted!
As for pastas you’re safe with most of the brands from the
supermarkets above – my favourites are Salute and Doves Farm.
Sainsbury stock some frozen products – I’ve only tried the pizza
which was ’ok’ – better than nothing! I’m not sure if Tesco do…..
Cakes and biscuits – again, lots to choose from! Just see what
takes your fancy – I particularly love Prewitt’s Chocolate
Bourbons – luxuriously delicious and you’d never know they were
gluten free!
If you want to bake then Dove’s Farm is the flour to get – it
makes brilliant cakes!
I generally avoid the health food shops as they tend to be
expensive and the range at my local one is not so good.
Beware corn tortillas as they’re usually corn and flour – unlike
in the US where I thoroughly enjoyed ‘just corn’ corn tortillas!
There is a small stall in Borough Market (near London Bridge
station), London where they sell proper corn tortillas and of
course you can freeze them!
If you’re over here for Christmas and want a GF Christmas pudding
I wouldn’t recommend buying one – none I’ve ever tried have been
very good! However, I would recommend the recipe in Peter
Thomson’s book “Gluten Free Cookery”! The family all prefer it to
what they would usually have had!!
If you have any specific enquiries do feel free to add me as a
friend on FB and get in touch!
Gluten free UK – Eating out
The awareness of the needs of those on a gluten free diet has
soared over recent years as has the provision of gluten free food
in restaurants and it’s now often specifically identified on
menus which is a great help, especially amongst chain
establishments!
If you’re in/near the Kingston upon Thames, Surrey area and like
Italian food you’ve got to check out “Bruschetta – the Gluten
Free Restaurant” on facebook – unbelievably good pizza and pasta
– I thought I’d gone to heaven!
I haven’t tried it but I recently heard about http://www.italiancotto.co.uk/ 89 Westminister
Bridge Road,Waterloo, London SE1 7HR so I’m looking forward to
giving it a go!
I’m not sure what the norm is for you regarding Chinese food and
the use of soy sauce – here it’s often added during cooking, even
to special fried rice so it’s always best to double check before
ordering! (editors note to newbies to the gluten free diet –
most soy sauces generally contain gluten. Please read the
ingredients label and check for a gluten free soy sauce
product).
Also, when eating Mexican food, beware corn tortillas as they’re
usually corn and flour – unlike in the US where I thoroughly
enjoyed ‘just corn’ corn tortillas!
Useful info on the web can be found at:
www.glutenfreetravelsite.com
www.go-gluten-free-wheat-free.co.uk/eating/
www.glutenfreeonthego.com/default.asp
If you have any specific enquiries do feel free to add me as a
friend on FB and get in touch!
Well, I think that’s it for now!
Bon appétit and happy travels!
Elena Blunsum London, UK
www.wanderful-life.com
Note from CFGF Team. Would you like to contribute some great
hints and tips for a gluten free lifestyle in your local
area?
First, please comment below.. and if you have a LOT to share,
then we’d be glad to hear from you and post an article with your
information to share with our community.
Tags:
gluten free london,
gluten free restaurants london,
gluten free restaurants uk,
gluten free UKDate Published: Dec 18, 2010 - 3:01 am
Gluten Free Christmas Cake Recipe
Gluten Free Christmas Cake
With Christmas only around the corner, we’ve had lots of people
ask us “how do I make a gluten free Christmas cake!?”
While we have a BONUS “Christmas Sweet Treats” Recipe ecookbook with the
purchase of “Everyday Meals & Entertaining” before
24th December 2010, we’ve decided to make this Gluten Free Christmas Cake
Recipe available for all – as our gift to you!
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
Download this recipe for your convenience:
Ingredients
1 kg mixed dried fruit*
1 cup glacé apricots, chopped
¾ cup glacé cherries, chopped
¼ cup glacé ginger, chopped
⅓ cup walnuts or almonds*, roughly chopped
½ cup brandy
Canola oil spray
1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
¼ cup vegetable oil
4 eggs (59g)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice (from 1 orange)
2 cups gluten free plain flour
½ cup gluten free self raising flour
1 ½ teaspoons mixed spice*
½ teaspoon cinnamon*
Blanched almonds to decorate*
1 meter length of wide Christmas ribbon or plastic Christmas
decoration
Method
In a large bowl, combine the mixed dried fruit, chopped glace
apricots, cherries and ginger. Pour over the brandy and toss
through. Cover and stand over night. Add the nuts and toss
through.
Preheat the oven to 150°C. Prepare a 20cm round cake tin, sprayed
lightly with the oil and lined with non-stick baking paper. Make
sure the paper stands 5cm above the edge of the cake tin.
Place the brown sugar, oil, eggs, orange juice and vanilla
essence in a medium bowl. Beat until smooth and has turned a
light brown. Add to the fruit mix and combine well.
In a separate bowl, sift the flours, mixed spice and cinnamon and
stir through to combine. Fold the flour mixture into the fruit
mixture, making sure the flour is mixed through well. Spoon the
mixture into the prepared pan, leveling out evenly with the back
of a spoon. Tap the pan gently on the bench to remove air
bubbles.
Bake on the middle shelf of the preheated oven for 3 hours or
until a skewer is inserted into the centre and comes out clean.
Remove from the oven, wrap in a clean tea towel and allow the
cake to cool.
Decorate the cake with the blanched almonds; place them evenly
around the top of the cake, gently pressing into the cake
mixture. You can wrap some Christmas ribbon around the cake or
place the plastic decoration on top (press the ‘stem’ into the
cake).
Serves: 30
Preparation time: 10 minutes (day before) plus 20 minutes prior
to cooking (30 minutes total)
Cooking time: 3 hours
Tip
If using a fan-forced oven, double line the cake tin with baking
paper and loosely lay an extra circle of baking paper on top of
the cake if it begins to darken too much. You may need to reduce
the heat a little.
A conventional oven was used to create this recipe.
* Indicates check the package label to confirm product is gluten
free.
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Tags:
gluten free cake,
gluten free cakes,
gluten free christmas,
gluten free christmas cake,
gluten free christmas cake recipe,
gluten free christmas cake recipes,
gluten free fruit cake recipeDate Published: Dec 13, 2010 - 9:49 pm
Being organized in the kitchen simply takes a little practice to
condition some new habits. Once you get familiar with your new
‘patterns’ – cooking becomes more fun and easy, and can create
more desire to want to cook more. Which means, you have
more control over what you eat, preparing yourself healthier
foods for greater health and vitality.
Preparing ahead, also minimizes the anxiety often associated with
a gluten-free diet, as you will have plenty of delicious food at
hand, made for meals and snacks on the go. It reduces the
temptation to ‘cheat’ (which is not good for your health) and
increases your psychological satisfaction along with your stomach
(delicious taste) and body (healthy food) praising you!
Below are twelve tips to being organized in the kitchen, to help
you along your way with cooking:
1. Allocate an hour or two one day a week
(perhaps the day before your ‘shopping day’) to plan your meals
for the week ahead. Make sure you consider your personal time
constraints. Set your meals up for success. Keep them quick and
easy for during your working week.
2. Create a ‘gluten free stock inventory’ list
of your regular foods you purchase and mark when required, before
they run out. Make a pad of multiple copies of this list and
stick to the fridge. (Note: It’s handy to share this list with
family and friends who may want to cook for you. It helps
‘relieve’ them of the “but what food can you eat?” fear.)
3. For meals that freeze well, make a double
batch and freeze single or family sized meals for those ‘nights
off’. Make sure you mark the container with the name of the meal
and the date it was made/frozen.
4. Co-ordinate your meals so that many of the
fresh ingredients are able to be used up and none go to
waste.
5. Buy meat in bulk and make up BBQ packs,
stir-fry meat packs (marinade strips of meat or chicken and
freeze, ready to go). Also, create stir-fry vegetable packs and
store in airtight container or zip-lock bags.
6. Store flours and dry goods in labeled
air-tight containers in the pantry, so things are easy to find
and get used before they expire.
7. Freeze left over liquids such as stock,
lemon juice, coconut cream, evaporated skim milk and percolated
coffee, in a covered ice tray for later use in meals and dessert
dishes requiring only a little of the ingredient. Once frozen you
can transfer to larger containers or zip lock bags so you can
reuse the ice trays.
8. Buy seasonal fruit in bulk when on sale and
freeze, eg. Bananas, strawberries, mangoes. Peel and slice or cut
up fruit into chunks and store in zip lock bags. These make great
ready-to-use serving portions for fruit smoothies, milkshakes,
muffins or cakes.
9. Keep your bench tops clean and uncluttered.
Wash and put dishes away each day. Inspiration to cook is often
thwarted when the kitchen is in a mess.
10. Invest in a good set of quality knives and
store correctly, in a block or on a knife rack. Keeping sharp
knives in drawers with other utensils blunts them very quickly. A
good knife to prepare food with makes ALL the difference to your
cooking experience.
11. Have the quality tools – pots, pans,
cutting boards, blender, several sized mixing bowls, quality
containers and utensils are just some of the kitchen tools that
make cooking all the more fun. Start with the basics, and go for
quality rather than quantity.
12. Consider doing your grocery shopping
online. With the advent of the internet, and online shopping,
most countries and locations have stores that now allow you to
place your order online, pay and have it delivered to your door!
You could save yourself several hours a week (no queues,
screaming kids, trying to find a space to park your car, etc).
Once you are familiar with your online shopping account, and
create a regular list, it usually takes no more than 15 minutes
to place your order. You can use the rest of the time now saved
(travel, store-time, queue time) to allocate it to more desirable
things you want to do – or even cook!
Enjoy!
Cheers to your health & vitality – and fun, being organized
in the kitchen.
Tags:
being organized in the kitchen,
eating gluten free,
eating wheat free,
gluten free,
wheat freeDate Published: Dec 11, 2010 - 9:45 pm
