Category Archives: Monthly Favourites

My June Favourites

Well June has been quite an eventful month and has gone pretty quick. We celebrated our Queens diamond jubilee, got an extended bank holiday, Mike celebrated his birthday, I had a lovely weekend in Bath, England lost at the Euros and we had absolutely shocking weather! Just rain, rain, rain and more bleeding rain. On top of that I’ve been ill with tonsilitus and when I was finally getting over that… I got an ear infection [cue the sad trombone]

Anyhow, it’s time for my monthly gluten free favourites. Although I usually do these every month, sadly the months April and May have been the crappiest months of my life so I decided not to bother [I wrote a little about it here]

PomBear Crisps 

 

God, I am addicted to these crisps! Not only are they gluten free but the crisps are actually bear shaped * squeals* I was more than happy munching away on their Ready Salted flavoured crisps but I honestly nearly had a slight cardiac when I saw they’d brought out new flavours - one being my favourite flavour - Prawn Cocktail! The only downside is I can’t stop eating them and on one particular day… I had 4 bags!

Genius New Gluten Free Bread

 

In my opinion, Genius do the greatest gluten free sliced bread I’ve ever tasted, so when I heard they were launching their ‘new recipe’ sliced bread, I actually wondered whether they could make it any better… and believe me, they did! The bread slices are huge, which make it the ideal bread for sandwiches, it tastes like ‘normal’ bread and it’s taken a while for me to get used to not having to ‘refresh’ it or have it toasted! Even my friends and house mates can’t get over the fact it tastes just like ‘normal’ bread!

And while were on the subject of Genius… have you heard about their new products they’ve brought out?

Gluten free Croissants and Gluten Free Pain Au Chocolat!!

Sainsburys Gluten Free Oaty Granola 

 

I can not get enough of this oaty granola from Sainsburys! Before, I was eating their gluten free muesli for breakfast, which was ‘ all right’ but I don’t know if I kept picking up ‘dodgy’ packs but it was like 90% raisins, 5% oats and 5% seeds plus it was bland and boring. So you could understand why I was a little hesitant to try their oaty granola - but I’m so glad I did! It’s absolutely gorgeous, so gorgeous that I find myself having it on an evening and munching on little handfuls throughout the day!

Mrs Crimbles Sage and Onion Stuffing 

 

 

We all know Mrs Crimbles do the greatest gluten free macaroons and mixes, but they also do the nicest gluten free stuffing! One of the things I worried about when I had to go gluten free was how much my Sunday Roast was going to be affected. Luckily, I’ve found a way to make lovely Gluten Free Yorkshire Puddings [or if I’m being lazy, Dietary Speicals do the greatest gluten free yorkshires!]  and there’s some great Gluten Free Gravy on the market, but I was worried I wouldn’t be able to have my stuffing anymore… until Mrs Crimbles came to the rescue! Contrary to what my cat Honey thinks [he thought it was cat food, until he sniffed the box and realised it was a box of stuffing!] it’s the nicest stuffing I’ve had! Plus when I’m feeling extra generous, I sometimes share it with my family, who say they can’t tell the difference! Infact, my dad prefers this stuffing to the normal stuffing!

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My March Favourites

It’s that time again, when I list off all my favourite gluten free treats that I’ve enjoyed this month. I started the monthly favourites list at the start of January and it’s been a great way of showing you lovely lot what I’ve really loved in the land of gluten free as well as the gluten free recipes I’ve made and consumed this month!

And I know it’s bad timing doing this blog post today considering it’s April Fool’s day [as well as my cat Honey’s birthday - ‘happy birthday Honey’] but I can assure you none of the things listed are an Aprils fool - I’m not that cruel! Although I did try and fool some of you on my personal facebook and twitter that I’d bought myself a pet skunk… but nobody battered an eyelid! [Isn’t it a cutie!?]

Gluten Free Tortillas

 

It’s pretty clear that one of the things we coeliacs miss  is tortillas, and although I’ve made my own gluten free tortillas, sometimes I miss the convenience of ready made tortillas because, quite frankly, I cannot be bothered to roll out dough and make them! So after trying Love More ready made gluten free tortilla wraps and absolutely loathing them [you can see my review here], a couple of us wondered if we’d ever find tasty ready made gluten free tortillas, that was until Caleigh from Gluten Free[k] came to the rescue! She told us of a fabulous Mexican food site online called Mex Grocer that specialises in gluten free corn tortillas! So I ordered a batch and you do get quite a lot, but it’s great value for money and they freeze wonderfully! They were so tasty and so soft that I after heating them up slightly in a frying pan, I was amazed at how they didn’t break when you wrapped them around your food! I’ll be doing a more in-depth review on them soon but they have become one of my gluten free hero’s!

Foodamentalists Gluten Free Bread Mix

 

I’ve wrote a more in-depth review about this amazing product here, but it’s only fair that I mention it again in my gluten free March Favourites as I’ll definitely be buying more and highly recommend it! Since being diagnosed with coeliac disease, I’ve been pretty wary about making and baking my own gluten free bread and avoided the whole thing like the plague. However, when the lovely Steve from Foodamentalists sent me a bag of their gluten free bread mix, I knew I had to succumb to my fear and make  my own gluten free bread and I’m so glad I tried it, as it was so easy to make and turned out to be one of the tastiest gluten free breads I’ve tried! P.s - It’s also dairy and egg free too!

Dietary Specials & Glutafin Gluten Free Day, Manchester 

 

As you’re all aware, D.S and Glutafin held a Gluten Free World Day in Manchester on the 24th March and I was extremely lucky to have been invited, along with my ‘bezzie’ mate Amy. I’ve wrote about it more here in my recent blog post, but I had such a fabulous dayout that it’s only fair that I mention it in my monthly favourites. If they do happen to be hosting another Gluten Free World Day in your area or near by then you should definitely go! I got to try amazing gluten free foods from Dietary Specials such as their gluten free sausage rolls and other gluten free products such as the amazing TruFree biscuits!

Black Farmer Burgers and Meatballs

 

Since we’ve been having such amazing weather this spring [which goes to show Summer might possibly be a wash out!], I’ve been getting out more [when I haven’t been poorly] and more importantly, having barbecues! Now barbecue often fill  ‘normal’ folk with feelings of summer and nostalgia where as for the humble coeliac, the word ‘barbecue’ often fills them with panic because it’s quite hard hunting down suitable and affordable gluten free burgers and sausages that we can cook on the ‘barbie’. However, that’s when Black Farmer comes to the rescue!

Now it’s very rare that other ‘normal’ wheat loving people are ever jealous of a coeliac and we’re often looked at with the occasional sympathy glance. However, when I cracked Black Farmer’s Pork and Apple Burgers on the barbecue last week and offered the others to try it, every single one of them looked on with envy! So much so that quite a few of us are going to put in an order soon as we can’t get enough! Honestly, they are the nicest tasting burgers I’ve ever had and I’ll be writing up a more in-depth review later on in the month!

Recipes Posted This Month

 

[Gluten/Dairy Free Boxty/Potato Pancake] [Leaning Tower of Mushroom]

[Gluten/Dairy Free Chocolate Tray Bake] [Homemade Chinese Stirfry Sauce]

[Spicy Chickpea Burger] [Nut/Gluten/Dairy Free Orange Cupcakes] [Chicken Pho]

 

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My February Favourites!

Last month, I decided to start a new feature on my blog where at the end of each month I will blog about the gluten free delights that have tickled my fancy! Also, I will link all the easy, gluten free recipes I’ve rustled up this month, just in case you’ve missed any! [Click here for my January favourites]

Pink Panther Wafers

 

I’d never seen these before but I just couldn’t resist buying them since I absolutely adore the Pink Panther [cue theme music]. They’re so delicious and cheap, that they make a great snack when you’re wanting your sugar fix. Plus, because they’re so tasty, even my friends who don’t have to eat gluten free really like them too!

Home-made Yorkshire Puddings:

 

The other day, me and ‘wheat’ Pete [my wheat loving housemate] had a craving for some Yorkshire puddings to go alongside our mini roast dinner. But, because Mike had taken the car, we weren’t able to drive to Asda to pick up some Dietary Specials amazing pre-made Yorkshire puddings - cue my nightmare! So ‘wheat’ Pete kindly offered to make some gluten free Yorkshire puddings for me and it pains me to say this, but they’re the nicest home made gluten free Yorkshire puddings I’ve had! Plus he also makes fantastic giant Yorkshire Puddings too! So I shall be popping his recipe up real soon so you can all try them for yourselves!

Nando’s:

It’s no secret that I love Nando’s and I doubt I’m not the only one. Every time someone mentions the word ‘Nando’s’ on twitter, that’s it, we all want a Nando’s. I ended up having a Nando’s the day before my birthday with my good friend Harper, where we shared a whole chicken between us! Then I went the day after on my actual birthday with my family - a bit greedy I know, but I’m sure you’d all do the same!

D.S Ciabatta Rolls:

 

You all know em’ and you all love em’, the amazing Dietary Specials Ciabatta Rolls! I’ve been having them a lot this month whilst I embark on a healthy eating diet! Lately, I’ve been using them to make tomato bruschetta, paninis and healthy sandwiches! What I love about these is how they taste just like the real thing! If you can’t find these amazing ciabatta rolls in your local supermarket, you can now buy them on their new on-line shop!

Gluten Free Ferrero Rochers

 

One of my favourite recipes this month was my gluten free Ferrero Rochers that I made for a valentines day inspired treat. Before my diagnosis, I would quite happily much through a whole tray of Ferrero Rochers without giving a second thought but I had to say a gut wrenching goodbye when I was diagnosed with coeliac disease. But all that changed this month when I made my first gluten free Ferrero Rochers that are so cheap and easy to make!

Amoy ‘Straight to Wok’ Noodles:

 

I came across these noodles in Sainsburys and couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw they were gluten free! Usually, I have to get my rice noodles from the Chinese supermarket in China Town, Manchester, but I like the fact I can still pick up a pack of noodles from my local supermarket! I ended up using them when I made my own gluten free stir fry sauce [which I will blog about asap] and loved them so much!

Recipes Posted This Month:

 

[Courgette, Blueberry & Lemon Muffins]   [Three Bean Chilli]   [Stuffed Crust Pizza]

[Ferrero Rocher]   [Mexican Roasted Chicken]   [Jerk Chicken]

[West Indian Rice & Peas]  [Pancakes]

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