Had two parties.....

I went to two parties this weekend, the one on Friday was for my own daughter who will be 17 on Tuesday, and that consisted of 50 teenagers, a live band and a DJ with some awesome music too.  My ears were still ringing on Saturday morning!!! But a good time was had by all.

On Saturday I had been invited to a Celidh.  We had informed our friends of my recent diagnosis, and was met with the response, oh that's OK we'll do you a separate plate of food.  That in itself was a breath of fresh air.  Nevertheless, I still ate before I went because we had been in Oxford all day checking out the University at their open day.  I also made sure I took some food with me as a back up.  When it came to eating I went to see my friend and she said oh yes the food is here, and then she divulged that she had neglected to tell her son and his mates that the separate plates of food were for the 3 Coeliac friends who were at the party.

Needless to say three Separate plates of food in the eyeline of three teenage boys, doesn't really need much explanation, and the ladies son didn't bother to ask, and naturally assumed that the food was for them.......result..........not as many sandwiches as there should have been.  Because I had eaten before I went and taken some snacks with me, it wasn't a problem, it was just so funny when the hostess told me what had happened, I don't know what the reaction of the other Coeliacs was, but I just found it really funny.   Really enjoyed the Celidh too.   It was nice to know though that I, and the other 2 Coeliacs had been treated as guests at their party rather than an inconvenience, I won't forget that.

Couldn't move this morning, I had such a good time last night, and I ache all over.

Published at last post script

It's a wierd feeling, knowing that something you have written has been turned into a book.  I received the hard copy this morning and still can't believe that I actually wrote it!!   I keep reading it, even though I know what it says........very surreal.

The purpose of the book is to help those who have just gone through diagnosis and who are feeling very bewildered.   Some of the proceeds from these books be it ebook, or softback will be going to Coeliac UK.   Their website is full of information and there is always someone on the end of the phone, and as a Thank You to them I would like to give something back whilst at the same time helping others who are going through what I did.   The book is based on my own personal experience.

So, if you can, please buy or download a copy and help me to help Coeliac UK to help even more people with this much misunderstood illness.

THANK YOU

Published at last

The Shock Factor 4 by Kaye Brett | Make Your Own Book

I've been playing around in the kitchen.....Onion Bhajis

I decided today that I would try out the Onion Bhaji recipe.  I discovered that on the packet of Gram flour I bought there was a recipe on the side for these too, so I used the ingredients previously published here and I used the method on the flour packet.

The results as tested by myself and my daughter are really good, and according to my daughter much better than the bought ones (no surprise there then!!)

I'm surprised we've got any left (we're going to have them with a Curry tonight, I need to use up some bits in the fridge!!) as they are so quick and easy to make.  I think I am going to have to possibly double the ingredients so instead of 15 (yes that's bitesize bhaji's) I shall get 30!!

I have updated the recipe with the method I used, Enjoy them.

Be careful

Please be careful.  I was invited to a party recently to celebrate a Golden Wedding.  When I explained all the  stuff about having to be gluten free I was met with these two responses:

Our daughter is 'wheat intolerant' so there will be things there that you can eat.

and  maybe it would be easier if you bought your own food.

You have to be extremely careful as many people think that 'gluten' is only present in Wheat!!  If I had turned up (as it happened I was unable to attend) with no food, I could have been offered Rye Bread, Oatcakes (which I hate) or anything that may have contained Barley.  

Wheat intolerance, is also not always gluten free as is shown in the statement above, that is why some of Doves Farm Flours are labelled Gluten and Wheat free, since not all Gluten free food will be wheat free (that will be the CODEX wheat starch.)

It is not a foregone conclusion that just because it doesn't contain wheat it will be gluten free.  This is a very common misconception and if you think about it, it does sort of make sense since most flours are made of wheat unless otherwise stated.

Just be wary, or you may be caught out on this one.  Rye, Barley and Oats contain less gluten than wheat but they are NOT gluten free, which as a Coeliac is what you need.

Flapjacks

Flapjacks

8oz GF Oats
4oz Marg
4oz Sugar

Oven preheated to Gas 4/160 c

Melt marg and sugar in a saucepan until all the sugar has dissolved.  Remove the pan from the heat and add the oats stir in the oats until they are all coated with the sugary mixture.

Press into a Baking sheet, bake in the oven for around 20 mins until they are golden brown.

Take the flapjacks out of the oven and score them into slices, leave to cool in the tin.  When cool break the flapjack out of the tin and put in an airtight container.

If you add any dried fruit and/or nuts to this mixture you can also make your own cereal bars.

Be warned though they can get very crumbly!!!  They don't last long either, as people will keep eating them!!

Did a little baking

I did some baking yesterday as I was feeling very devoid of Cake!!

I made the Victoria Sponge and very nearly forgot to put in the raising agent (Juvela isn't SR) so that could have been a bit of a disaster.  Fortunately I remembered before finished whisking it up.

I also made some Fruit Scones,  just make sure you use a  slightly smaller cutter than I did, you should get 10-12 Scones out of this mix, I only managed 6, but they are enormous!!

Heres the Recipe:

12oz GF Flour
3oz Marg
1 tbsp Sugar or to taste
1 tsp GF Baking Powder
4oz dried mixed fruit
1 egg
and milk to make the mix into a soft dough.

Put the flour and marg into a bowl, rub in the marg until the mix resembles breadcrumbs, add the sugar, baking powder and fruit, and mix well.  Beat the egg, and add to the mix to bind the ingredients together, add milk if the egg isn't enough, knead around the bowl until the bowl is clean.  Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to about 1 1/2 inches.....if you do it less you'll end up with Pancakes!!  Cut out rounds and place on a baking tray.

Put in a preheated oven Gas 7-8  220C and cook for 10 - 12 mins
Cut in half butter each half and enjoy with a nice cup of tea.

It always surprises me.........

I went to a local Coeliac group meeting last night, which was a talk about nutrition and a tour of a local supermarket, and it was aimed at newly diagnosed Coeliacs, which I came under.

What I found most surprising about these people who give talks about nutrition or diet, they are always (in my experience anyway)  stick thin, always appear to take supplements for everything and actually don't appear to eat 'normal' food!!! Now that may just be a generalisation, BUT, this talk was aimed at those who were newly diagnosed.

The tour around the supermarket focused on reading labels, and highlighted to other people who were there that you mustn't get complacent, recipes change, and so does packaging so don't assume, ALWAYS read the label.  As you will know from the rest of this blog, I'd already discovered that for myself, and discovered that many 'normal' foods are OK to eat, it's just a case of educating yourself and those around you.

Unfortunately this lady got very technical about what was in the food and that we shouldn't eat this that and the other.  If I had been diagnosed last month, I would be completely depressed and extremely confused after last nights talk, to be honest I think for newly diagnosed Coeliacs it would have been counterproductive.

All this lady really needed to tell us was this:  Always read the label, don't get complacent, some labelling is confusing and this is where the Food and Drink Directory helps, eat a balanced diet.  i.e. if you eat a portion of meat, a portion of potatoes and two vegetables for dinner everyday then you've pretty much covered it. Obviously if you are vegetarian, then you need to have something like Egg or Tofu for your protein.  But your basic Dinner Plate Meat = Protein Potatoes = Carbohydrate Vegetables = vitamins/minerals/and fibre.  Fruit will also boost that (Puds)

If you had problems with Dairy, which I don't, then she did come up with some good alternatives, and for extra vitamin boost use nuts/seeds and dried fruit.  

She told us she wasn't a big fan of sugar and was suggesting that we used sweeteners....personally they are full of chemicals therefore surely a spoonful of sugar would be much better, or Honey.

My daughter made me laugh, as she said 'after this I think we ought to have a plate full of battered fish, chips, sausage, bacon, egg and beans'   followed by Chocolate Cake!! Thats my girl!!!

I understand why nutrition is important but the talk last night was enough to make any newly diagnosed Coeliac go running home crying that they now are unable to eat anything and as a result they need to take supplements.   We have to remember that these people are only giving out information, I would feel inclined to listen to my body and talk to my GP who has a much better idea of the sort of problems I encounter with my health, too many opinions makes life confusing, information is useful and I did learn one thing last night that confirmed what I was thinking,  

I was amazed also at how many people went around the supermarket with a notepad, if it works for you then fine, but I actually find that you spend more time writing than listening and therefore don't take in all that you are being told.   It's not necessary what's important is a balanced diet and always read the label, then the nutrition should happen without you having to supplement things.

Like many of you reading this, you may be on medication for other things that a nutritionist in this setting would not be aware of so it's not gospel it's just designed to help you.  I was told that my dietitian was wrong to discharge me from her care.......this person wasn't there, how does she know that was wrong?  What this lady didn't know was that we had been all the way through my food diary that was anything but boring, and told me that I understood what a balanced diet was about, and therefore it was a waste of time me visiting her regularly.  It was qualified with if you or your GP think it would be necessary to see us again then ask to be referred again, you will be on our radar as you are now a Coeliac patient.   So you have to take things in context.

I eat normal food (that is GF normal food) and I have a balanced diet, I have not been advised to take supplements by my primary care advisor (GP) apart from the horrid B12 jabs, but that is only 3x a year, and I have basics on prescription.   I'm a human being, of course I will eat junk, but not everyday.  I have biscuits with my cups of tea, I eat and bake (as you know) cake, and I will eat crisps and things.   I work on the principle that if your main meals i.e Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are full of the right stuff, you are less likely to do the 'junk' in between anyway.........everything in moderation and I believe you will be over half way there.  I'm a ladies size 14 and I have been ever since I was around 24, so not exactly stick thin!!  As Mika said: Curves in all the right places.......

Someone once said to me There is no such thing as Junk Food, it's a Junk Diet you want to worry about, and to a point that is very true.

Recipe for a brilliant Curry Sauce

If you've always loved Curry then this will be good.  If like me you're not sure try this recipe, since I've had it I have become a complete convert to Curry.

This recipe was given to me by an Indian lady who came to give a talk about Curry at a women's meeting I used to attend.

3 tblsp vegetable oil

2 oz onion peeled and finely chopped

1 inch cube of fresh ginger, grated

2 cloves of garlic finely grated

1 tsp cashews/almonds finely grated (I never use this0

½ pint single cream (I always use milk, it works just as well and always in the fridge!!)

1 tsp ground roasted Cumin Seeds

½ tsp paprika/chilli powder

¼ tsp garam masala............equal amounts of cardamom pods, cloves and cinnamon (I'd start with 3 pods 3 cloves and miniscule amount of cinnamon) and grind it yourself.

2 tsp tomato puree

¼ pint chicken stock

1 tbsp ground parsley ( I never use this)

Salt and Pepper to taste (I never add this either!)

Method: Heat oil in pan over medium heat, put in the onions and fry til soft. Add garlic, ginger and ground almonds fry for 1-2 minutes. Add ground cumin, chilli powder, garam masala fry for ½ a min. (This smells fantastic!) Add cream and tomato paste and fry for 1 min. Add chicken stock and simmer for 20mins. This keeps for around 3 days in the fridge, if you can stop people eating it!! It also freezes well.

Since I've had this recipe I have never resorted back to Curry powder, this is much better.