This is the recipe for these, but I have yet to try it myself, as there is no method, so that is just guess work!!
100g GF Gram Flour (Chickpea Flour)
25g Chopped Fresh Coriander
1/4 tsp Chilli powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1/2 tsp GF Baking powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1 large Onion halved and sliced (not sure if chopped might work too!)
Blend all ingredients except the onion and the coriander. Add enough water to make a sticky dough. Mix in the onion and coriander. Deep fry spoonfuls of the batter until crisp and golden. Drain on kitchen paper.
I found a very rounded teaspoon of the mixture made Bhajis like the bitesize picnic ones you can buy (15 of them) I used my Wok to great effect, you don't need much oil for these either. Enjoy.
Obviously if you have a Deep Fat Fryer, you can use that (I don't possess one)
The one I had was gorgeous, and if Brownies can make them (7 - 10yr olds) I'm fairly sure we can make a good fist of them !!!
Sunday 31 March 2013
Pizza Base recipe (with thanks to Juvela)
Pizza Bases. I use my automatic bread maker to make the dough for these bases. This amount of dough does make quite a big Pizza base, so if you are only cooking for two, 1/2 the dough and freeze the other 1/2 for later.
Ingredients
200ml (8fl ozs) Cold Water
1 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil
1 tsp salt
350g (14oz) JUVELA Gluten Free White mix
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp easy blend dried yeast (measured from the sachet supplied with mix)
Method
Place water, oil and salt in the bread pan. Add the Gluten Free mix and sugar and sprinkle in the yeast. Place the bread pan in the bread maker and select the DOUGH programme.
When the programme is complete remove the dough from the pan with your hands and place directly on a lightly floured (with mix). The dough will be quite sticky and it takes about 5 mins to knead the stickiness out, as you knead it will become smooth and easier to handle, it is now ready to make into rolls or pizza bases.
JUVELA will provide you with your own automatic bread maker recipe book in pdf form if you email them and ask for it, this is where this came from, it is totally FREE, you just have to request it.
See the pizza recipe in an older post at the bottom of Recipes....Now time for the savouries, my kids can't get enough of this Pizza, what the base is made of doesn't bother them, they like it cold too (good for picnics!!)
Wednesday 27 March 2013
Works do
So I turned up to the works do, late, because I had to go and fetch my own food.
When the food arrived and everyone was told they could start lunch, the questions started as from my bag I produced, Quiche (two types), Sausage rolls, bread rolls, salad, biscuits and Cake.
Someone asked if the other food wasn't good enough?!!
Someone else quite calmly stated, she's on a Gluten Free diet, which raised eyebrows.
Was this your New years resolution? No
Are you allergic or intolerant to gluten? No neither, I have Coeliac Disease
At which point everyone lost interest...........very frustrating, and in some ways degrading, as the condition is not seen as an illness.
Hopefully it will improve, doesn't make it any easier though.
When the food arrived and everyone was told they could start lunch, the questions started as from my bag I produced, Quiche (two types), Sausage rolls, bread rolls, salad, biscuits and Cake.
Someone asked if the other food wasn't good enough?!!
Someone else quite calmly stated, she's on a Gluten Free diet, which raised eyebrows.
Was this your New years resolution? No
Are you allergic or intolerant to gluten? No neither, I have Coeliac Disease
At which point everyone lost interest...........very frustrating, and in some ways degrading, as the condition is not seen as an illness.
Hopefully it will improve, doesn't make it any easier though.
Sunday 24 March 2013
One down.......one to go.....
Yesterday unfortunately flagged up some of the pitfalls of misunderstanding. I had had many email conversations with the person dealing with the food, and was told that it would be a ploughmans style lunch. Ok fine. My expectation was that I would have a plate to myself with the things I could eat on it. Scrap that.
When I first arrived we were all offered biscuits (nothing GF for me, but fortunately I had taken my own.) even though I had been told that these would be provided.
Half way through the morning I could smell hot cross buns being cooked. Nothing for me, although the person dealing with the food had sourced some gluten free cake for me (GF hot cross buns are not easy to come by)
At lunch time, as stated above, the expectation was a completely separate plate of food. When I went out to see if lunch was ready, it was all set out on the table and to my disappointment there was: breaded ham (sigh!), Pate (sigh!), Pizza, quiche, sausage rolls, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. I was mistaken in not taking my own butter/margarine as there was only one pot which everyone else was happily spreading on chunks of french bread, so I couldn't use that either. The response I got 'was oh is it that bad' when I know on one of the very first communications I sent to this person I actually made a point of telling him 'that you have to treat it as you would a very severe nut allergy' Obviously fell on deaf ears. The breaded ham to me was a very silly mistake and was obvious it wasn't thought about.
Whilst I have no problem with Cheese this was huge big chunks of cheddar that were very dry. Whilst I know the person is only a volunteer, it just shows that sometimes it doesn't matter how much or even what you tell people you have to make sure they understand what the problem is. Basically if I hadn't taken my own rolls, I would have had a very limited choice of food as obviously I couldn't eat any of the other products. It was touch and go whether the yoghurt provided for afters would have been suitable, this is why I bang on about learning to read labels, it took me less that 5 min to ascertain that they were safe for me.
Why don't people say and do what they are going to do? I was told that they would provide food for me and just assumed that Pate would be safe and didn't read the label. Every pack of Pate on the table contained wheat starch, but I was most upset about the ham, that was just totally not thinking, if I can't eat bread then it's obvious I can't eat anything breaded....or is that just my brain?
I was disappointed, as there hadn't been much effort put in the only item that had been provided specifically for me was the packet of Bakewell slices. This brings home why nearly all Coeliacs take their own food to things, as people just do not understand and make assumptions about food, which as yesterday proved can leave the Coeliac with not a lot to eat, or quite often, nothing at all.
Ah well, work do tomorrow.........lets see how I do there (taking my own food, so I won't starve, this is more about, reactions from colleagues not misunderstandings about what I can and can't eat) Nervous about that too, but I won't go hungry!!!
When I first arrived we were all offered biscuits (nothing GF for me, but fortunately I had taken my own.) even though I had been told that these would be provided.
Half way through the morning I could smell hot cross buns being cooked. Nothing for me, although the person dealing with the food had sourced some gluten free cake for me (GF hot cross buns are not easy to come by)
At lunch time, as stated above, the expectation was a completely separate plate of food. When I went out to see if lunch was ready, it was all set out on the table and to my disappointment there was: breaded ham (sigh!), Pate (sigh!), Pizza, quiche, sausage rolls, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. I was mistaken in not taking my own butter/margarine as there was only one pot which everyone else was happily spreading on chunks of french bread, so I couldn't use that either. The response I got 'was oh is it that bad' when I know on one of the very first communications I sent to this person I actually made a point of telling him 'that you have to treat it as you would a very severe nut allergy' Obviously fell on deaf ears. The breaded ham to me was a very silly mistake and was obvious it wasn't thought about.
Whilst I have no problem with Cheese this was huge big chunks of cheddar that were very dry. Whilst I know the person is only a volunteer, it just shows that sometimes it doesn't matter how much or even what you tell people you have to make sure they understand what the problem is. Basically if I hadn't taken my own rolls, I would have had a very limited choice of food as obviously I couldn't eat any of the other products. It was touch and go whether the yoghurt provided for afters would have been suitable, this is why I bang on about learning to read labels, it took me less that 5 min to ascertain that they were safe for me.
Why don't people say and do what they are going to do? I was told that they would provide food for me and just assumed that Pate would be safe and didn't read the label. Every pack of Pate on the table contained wheat starch, but I was most upset about the ham, that was just totally not thinking, if I can't eat bread then it's obvious I can't eat anything breaded....or is that just my brain?
I was disappointed, as there hadn't been much effort put in the only item that had been provided specifically for me was the packet of Bakewell slices. This brings home why nearly all Coeliacs take their own food to things, as people just do not understand and make assumptions about food, which as yesterday proved can leave the Coeliac with not a lot to eat, or quite often, nothing at all.
Ah well, work do tomorrow.........lets see how I do there (taking my own food, so I won't starve, this is more about, reactions from colleagues not misunderstandings about what I can and can't eat) Nervous about that too, but I won't go hungry!!!
Friday 22 March 2013
Apprehensive
I'm feeling a bit apprehensive, tomorrow I am going to a Scout training session and they are providing the food, apart from my rolls (they are prescription and much better than some of the Supermarket varieties!!) It will be interesting to see what I am offered.
I have been in several conversations with the person dealing with the food so hopefully it should be really good......I've taken it on trust, to see what happens. I'm a bit nervous, but I think that is only natural should be interesting.
On Monday, I have a works meeting and after the last shambles, I was told it might be easier for me to bring my own food. Lets just say that the company they used to provide the food, has no idea, and despite my boss talking to them and myself spending nearly two hours of my time to sort out what would be good, I was presented with a platter which clearly showed I had been completely ignored even to the point where they thought that I couldn't eat fruit!!! I have been out shopping so I shall see if this platter of my own making will outshine the outside caterers...at least I will be able to eat the grapes and strawberries as they won't be covered in cake crumbs (well maybe mine, but they are all gluten free anyway, so not a problem!!) I'm a bit nervous about that too, as I have no idea what reaction I will get from my colleagues. This was not works fault, the outside caterer was about as much use as a chocolate teapot, and they have lost a customer because of their attitude.
Last time I was stared at, and felt really pushed out from the team, I think my boss is beginning to understand how isolating Coeliac Disease can be, and how conspicuous it makes you feel, as you are unable to join in with everyone else. It's not a nice feeling and I don't think I shall ever get used to it, you feel like a complete 'freak' and people are amazed that you can eat normal food, it just doesn't contain gluten.
I have been in several conversations with the person dealing with the food so hopefully it should be really good......I've taken it on trust, to see what happens. I'm a bit nervous, but I think that is only natural should be interesting.
On Monday, I have a works meeting and after the last shambles, I was told it might be easier for me to bring my own food. Lets just say that the company they used to provide the food, has no idea, and despite my boss talking to them and myself spending nearly two hours of my time to sort out what would be good, I was presented with a platter which clearly showed I had been completely ignored even to the point where they thought that I couldn't eat fruit!!! I have been out shopping so I shall see if this platter of my own making will outshine the outside caterers...at least I will be able to eat the grapes and strawberries as they won't be covered in cake crumbs (well maybe mine, but they are all gluten free anyway, so not a problem!!) I'm a bit nervous about that too, as I have no idea what reaction I will get from my colleagues. This was not works fault, the outside caterer was about as much use as a chocolate teapot, and they have lost a customer because of their attitude.
Last time I was stared at, and felt really pushed out from the team, I think my boss is beginning to understand how isolating Coeliac Disease can be, and how conspicuous it makes you feel, as you are unable to join in with everyone else. It's not a nice feeling and I don't think I shall ever get used to it, you feel like a complete 'freak' and people are amazed that you can eat normal food, it just doesn't contain gluten.
Thursday 7 March 2013
Wonderful moment!
I have just had the most wonderful thing happen to me.
I have just dropped off my youngest daughter to her Ranger meeting (Senior Section Guides), in the hall downstairs the Brownies had just finished making a batch of Onion Bhaji's, now I can tell you that they smelt absolutely wonderful (and I just love Onion Bhaji's too). I got to the bottom of the stairs and the Brownie Leader was offering the Bhaji's around as they had some left over. I very politely told her that I couldn't eat them because they contained flour. The reply was music to my ears 'oh they've been made with Gram Flour' when I asked her what else was in them, everything she listed was Gluten Free............absolute heaven.
I had been offered something completely out of the blue that was SAFE for me to eat, so I partook of the said Bhaji, it was gorgeous and hot as they had just finished cooking them. I was then handed the recipe for said snack.
You know what, I can't think of anywhere else where that would have happened apart from a Scouting type meeting.....it was just absolutely wonderful to feel 'normal.'
We are not all about tying knots and doing first aid, we're about inclusion.....and if the above event doesn't prove that I don't know what does. Giving me the recipe was the last thing I expected so now, I can make my own.
Absolutely made my evening, and I thank them wholeheartedly for it.
I have just dropped off my youngest daughter to her Ranger meeting (Senior Section Guides), in the hall downstairs the Brownies had just finished making a batch of Onion Bhaji's, now I can tell you that they smelt absolutely wonderful (and I just love Onion Bhaji's too). I got to the bottom of the stairs and the Brownie Leader was offering the Bhaji's around as they had some left over. I very politely told her that I couldn't eat them because they contained flour. The reply was music to my ears 'oh they've been made with Gram Flour' when I asked her what else was in them, everything she listed was Gluten Free............absolute heaven.
I had been offered something completely out of the blue that was SAFE for me to eat, so I partook of the said Bhaji, it was gorgeous and hot as they had just finished cooking them. I was then handed the recipe for said snack.
You know what, I can't think of anywhere else where that would have happened apart from a Scouting type meeting.....it was just absolutely wonderful to feel 'normal.'
We are not all about tying knots and doing first aid, we're about inclusion.....and if the above event doesn't prove that I don't know what does. Giving me the recipe was the last thing I expected so now, I can make my own.
Absolutely made my evening, and I thank them wholeheartedly for it.
Saturday 2 March 2013
Misconceptions
How do you deal with people who have no idea that Coeliac Disease is a lifelong condition? I had one person yesterday tell me that two of her friends both grew out of Coeliac Disease and now they can eat gluten again...........from all the information and my logical brain that is NOT possible, just like you can't grow out of Diabetes, or Arthritis. Real Coeliac Disease is an Autoimmune disorder, so you cannot grow out of it.
I believe these people who think they have grown out of it, either only had a temporary gluten intolerance, or were diagnosed by blood test only, and although I understand the reasons for many people to want to be diagnosed that way, the only definitive way to know for sure is to have the biopsy. That is not to say that it made them ill, but there have been reports of people in the medical profession telling children that they have grown out of the disease, which is not very helpful as they are giving them false hope.
I despair of the system if our medical professionals do not know what they are dealing with, we don't stand a hope.
I had a mishap yesterday, and although the symptoms weren't bad, I believe I accidentally glutened myself when cooking Fish Fingers for the rest of the family. This is what I used to think was Diverticulitis, but the last twice it has happened I have been dealing with gluten filled food. I feel fine now, but it just shows that you have to be so careful. Diverticulitis was a diagnosis I was having trouble accepting because it never made any sense, the more I think about it, Coeliac Disease makes much more sense and would explain why we never knew what triggered my supposed Diverticulitis......Misdiagnosis methinks.
I believe these people who think they have grown out of it, either only had a temporary gluten intolerance, or were diagnosed by blood test only, and although I understand the reasons for many people to want to be diagnosed that way, the only definitive way to know for sure is to have the biopsy. That is not to say that it made them ill, but there have been reports of people in the medical profession telling children that they have grown out of the disease, which is not very helpful as they are giving them false hope.
I despair of the system if our medical professionals do not know what they are dealing with, we don't stand a hope.
I had a mishap yesterday, and although the symptoms weren't bad, I believe I accidentally glutened myself when cooking Fish Fingers for the rest of the family. This is what I used to think was Diverticulitis, but the last twice it has happened I have been dealing with gluten filled food. I feel fine now, but it just shows that you have to be so careful. Diverticulitis was a diagnosis I was having trouble accepting because it never made any sense, the more I think about it, Coeliac Disease makes much more sense and would explain why we never knew what triggered my supposed Diverticulitis......Misdiagnosis methinks.
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