Another recipe that I have been wanting to share with you for ages, is a gluten free Swiss roll. It’s one of those recipes that might seem a bit fiddly, but it really isn’t. The sponge itself only requires 3 ingredients and you can then fill the fluffy and ever so light Swiss roll with jam, lemon curd, whipped cream, buttercream – in fact whatever takes your fancy. This is simply the basic recipe for you to adapt and transform into whatever grabs you!
I first learnt how to make lemon curd in a home economics class at school (a long time ago – although it really doesn’t feel like it). Much to my delight, when I took it home, it was a huge hit with my mum and grandparents. For a little while after that my family were slightly bombarded with jars of lemon curd…..I heard no complaints though!
As a cook, sometimes I feel a bit guilty when I buy ready-made shop bought things. But when I’m short of preparation time, I’m really glad there are great convenience products on hand that can help me out just when I need it!
This Lees meringue pavlova that I picked up from Aldi the other day is a perfect example of a smashing ready-made treat to have stashed away in the cupboard ready to be transformed into something quite magnificent when time is not on your side. It’s **naturally gluten free and is made simply with pasteurised egg white and sugar…. yes, that’s it! What you then top it with is entirely up to you!
I was always a bit rubbish at making egg fried rice until somebody explained to me where I was going wrong. It was simply that I had been adding a raw egg to the rice rather than a lightly cooked one (basically it’s just a super quick omelette, which is then roughly chopped up). From that moment on I had egg fried rice sussed!
Really giddy to share this recipe for a gluten free blackcurrant pie, as it’s one of my favourite puddings that my grandma used to make, and since being diagnosed with coeliac I have never made myself a gluten free version……until today! And what’s really nice, is the blackcurrants I’ve used for this pie, have come from my dad’s next-door neighbours garden. She let me pop in the other day and pick myself a container full!
I consider myself to be a very lucky coeliac, as the route to my diagnosis was a quick and straightforward one, thanks to the keen eye of my GP. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for many people. It’s been said that in the UK it can take on average 13 years to get a medical diagnosis for coeliac disease. Alarming statistics, considering the crippling and serious health implications undiagnosed coeliac disease can have on so many people.
I’m forever trying new gluten free products – some I like, some I don’t. And although like many things, food is all down to personal taste, I thought it would be good to share with you the things that I have tried this month and without any hesitation would buy again!
Pavlova, would probably be my first pudding choice off a menu (gluten free sticky toffee pudding or a fabulous ice cream would also be huge contenders!!). And the great thing about Pavlova, is by nature it’s naturally gluten free – hoorah!! Of course, when eating out you do need to double check, to ensure no pesky gluten ingredients have been added!
Last week me and Neil took ourselves off for a few nights stay to the very wonderful Carnoustie Golf Hotel and Spa. Our original trip was due to be to Arran, but Neil spotted this hotel in Carnoustie and we got side tracked. We will make it to Arran one day, but for now I was more than happy to head up to the North East coast and settle down and make Carnoustie our home for a few nights!
When it comes to keeping gluten free food safe, and still gluten free, preventing cross contamination throughout the whole storage, preparation, cooking and serving process is key. And to help spread a consistent message how important (and achievable) this really is for anybody that requires a gluten free diet, the advice should, be simple and clear, so it can then be easily applied to every food prep situation – helping people understand what a true gluten free diet really entails. So, whether we are putting food together in our own kitchen, having it prepared for us in our friends and family’s homes or being served gluten free food from a restaurant kitchen etc, everyone knows how to safely cater for anybody who needs to eat gluten free.