Sharabelle bakes

Scottish Book Trust   The 26th November - 2nd December is Book Week in Scotland.  11am at my local library today, I joined others Scot in celebrating St Andrews day by having a blether about Scottish books.   We talked about the books we had just read (Mine Pandaemonium by Christopher Brookmyre) and looked at Scottish based stories and authors.  Books have kept me sane. When my mental health problems were at there worst 3 year's ago I re-joined my local library's reading group. More importantly I took my first steps towards re-joining social life.  Iv found focusing on a good story by reading on bus's, can help stop me from having full blown panic attacks.  Getting lost in the story helps block everything out, probably because reading is an active thought process. I really enjoy getting together with other folk over a cup of tea and discussing a book.  Funnily enough it's the books we don't like that cause the ...

When ever people find out about my food intolerance's I'm always asked the same question.... What do you eat????? They think there's nothing left once you take Meat, poultry, dairy and yeast off the menu.  What's left?  Well alot.... My weekly grocery shop includes eggs, fish, veggies, fruit and non dairy alternatives. Along with this I make my own yeast free Soda bread, biscuits, muffins and scones.  Living with IBS doesn't mean that food has to be expensive or boring.   Dairy free alternatives do cost more compared too full dairy, but the cost of my weekly shop has still gone down.  As for boring, well I let you make up your own mind. Thursday Breakfast -Dairy free porridge, served with chopped peaches and a tablespoon of plain soya yogurt Morning break -Toasted Pumpkin soda Bread with honey Lunch -Homemade carrot and coriander soup -Small salad with potato and cuc...

Scones with Afternoon tea on today's menu at the Pantry.   Scones are one of my favourite things to make, so it was no hardship making a double batch today for afternoon tea.  I'v made so many over the year's, it's a recipe I can almost make completely on auto pilot.  It was bleeping freezing this morning and stayed that way for the rest of the day. So we stuck to hearty comfort food for the rest of the menu. Home made Mac and cheese or Lasagna with chips (In Scotland chips are pretty much served with everything!!)   Dessert was a home made creamy rice pudding, it was so popular that we sold out.  TIP : Scones and rice pudding are really easy to make dairy free.  They work great by using either soya and coconut.  There also both cheaper to make yourself, rather than buying pre-made dairy free.  The mac and cheese looked great, I  made my own mac and pea's when I got home but it's not...

Mushroom curry pie (dairy/egg free) Okay new holiday dilemma, I want to take my own food to eat on my flight. I don't want the stress of getting to the airport and not being able to find anything. I can't just eat my orange and cranberry scones on the flight, it would be boring.....  I know you definitely can't take meat and dairy products due to recent foot and mouth outbreak, not much of a problem for me as I can't eat either of these. You’re okay to take solid food items through airport security, so does a homemade mushroom pie count as a solid food item? Who knows!!!!! Don't think I'll take the chance, there too good to have confiscated.  I think I'll go for my second option and just take a bag of Morrisons Sweet and salty popcorn.  Who knew that traveling with my IBS intolerances would be more stressful, than my anxiety disorder. I like traveling by plane; I find any vehicle that people are strapped in too has a positive effect on their b...

 Orange and cranberry loaf  After baking my soda bread scones the other day, I was left with a whole orange without the zest and the remaining dried cranberry's.  What to do????  Why bake some more........ I decided to bake a tea loaf cake to take on holiday.   I figure that a loaf cake has the best chance of surviving a trip in a luggage hold. Rather than Cake or muffins, which are more likely to crumble.  It also gives me something to eat when we arrive, in case the flights delayed.  Family and friends have talked me out of packing a carton of soya milk, in case it explodes.  Not sure if that's true or not, but the idea of unpacking soaked clothes did put me off the idea. Slight over kill maybe, but along with IBS food intolerance's I also have an anxiety disorder.  The more prepared I am, the less stressed I'll get.  The less stressed I am, the less stress my mum will be. I really enjoyed taste testing this o...

 Costa Teguise, Lanzarote  Holiday checklist Find veggie friendly or vegan restaurants so I can eat out on holiday. - Happy Cow  website has found me a couple Find shops that sell that sell Soya milk and fresh fruit and veg. - Both Euro spar and hiperdino stock Write down the spanish translation for dairy and yeast free food. - soya milk = Leche de sojo - Soya yogurt = yogur de soja - vegan = vegano (A lot easier than saying I can't eat meat or poulty) - I am lactose intolerant = soy la lactosa intolerante - Yeast intolerant = levadura intolerante Find out if I can take my own food to eat during the flight. - UK Government website says YES, as long as it's solid food. eg no yogurts, syrups, drinks or sauce sachets Bake emergency food for traveling - Orange and cranberry soda bread scones (Basic soda bread recipe with zest of 1 orange & 50 grams dried cranberry, then formed into scones) Book Travel insurance - Done throu...

 Dairy free Fish pie Iv been working through my favourite foods to find dairy free versions that I can make for myself.  Fish pie has got to be one of my ultimate winter comfort foods.  I became slightly addicted to it when I had to eat soft food, because of my dental brace.  There was a point when I had to go to the Dental hospital every 2 weeks to get them tightened.  So I ate.... a lot of soft food. If you've never had a dental brace, there is no way you want to bite into any food when you teeth ache.  The standing joke at the time was the amount of mental dental tools my orthodontist tried to fit in my mouth at the same time. Im glad those days are long over, as after a while eating soft food became really boring.  I started to rely on frozen convenience food, as i lost all interest in cooking.  So yesterday is the first time Iv ever attempted to make my own fish pie.  There isn't real...

Pumpkin soda bread Based on the current weather (Rain, gales ohh and lots more rain) Soup season has now officially started. The perfect accompaniment to soup is bread however Due to my IBS I'm intolerant to yeast.  So I either buy or bake my own soda bread.  Aldi stock a lovely whole wheat soda bread farl, while you can find Chef Paul Rankin's Irish Brown Soda bread stocked in most supermarkets.  Aldi's is larger, cheaper and just as tasty as Irwin's Rankin brand so that's the one I tend to buy. Budget Tip :- Look at the reduced section in your local shops and supermarkets.  Perishable items like bread are reduced in price when they near there 'best before' date.  As long as you freeze on the same day you buy it, the bread will taste OK.  I split  mine into portions and place in freezer bags,  that way your only defrosting what you need.    It's a great way to enjoy your favo...

  It started to rain on my way to work this morning and it never stopped. It's been a horrid Gray day, the kind that makes you crave hearty comfort food.  So since the jam sponge pudding we made yesterday was such a hit, we decided to make a syrup sponge pudding to go onto today's menu.    There's nothing better than sponge and custard, it was just a shame I couldn't have any.    I think the guys like the classic old dessert because it's not something you can really buy in supermarkets.  You used to be able to find them local baker shops. Mmmm one local bakery that shut about 10 years ago used to make the best ever Eve's pudding.   Traditionally sponge puddings are steamed, however that's not really practical when your baking for a factory canteen.  To be honest I'm not really fond of steamed puddings, I find them too stodgy.  I much prefer to bake them in the oven the way I learnt from my mum....

My IBS is still playing up, last night I had to sleep on the couch to get some sleep.  I sleep sitting up with  a hot water bottle on my tum.  This lets me stretch out my legs or draw them up, for some reason it works better than sleeping in my bed.  Iv learnt to just go with it now, but I was really grumpy this morning.  Finding another slug in my kitchen this morning didn't help, I swear there like Ninjas!!! I have no idea how there getting in.  With some people it's spiders, with me it's slugs.  I got out of bed and went to the kitchen in the dark for a drink of water one night and stood on one yuck.  I have no idea what's set off my IBS this time, and sometimes that happens.  It could be combination of food that I ate together that's caused it.  Or it could be because of the downward mood swings I get at this time of year.  Who knows?  Iv found keeping physically active helps.  It takes my mind off the ...

 Scotch Dahl Scotch Dahl served over, cumin roasted potato and cauliflower. Yet another cooking experiment, I had another curry craving.  Personally I blame the weather, lucky for me it's a proven fact that Eating curry and spicy food can help kill cold and flu germs.   Probably the same way they can help clear the sinuses!!.  I love spicy food but Indian would be my favourite.  I stay clear of the 'blow your head of with spice variety', i like to be able to taste my food. Where lucky in Scotland, as we have been exposed to Indian cuisine for several decades now.  I was first introduced to Indian food  by a family that lived next door.  The mother didn't speak much English, but her and my own mother found a way to communicate through food.  Every so often bajji's and other fresh made treats would find there way over our back garden fence.  Just as every so often so would a jar of my mum's own homemade jam ...

Banana and Oat scones The weathers horrible, the shops are already playing  seasonal pop songs in their stores!!! It's not even December yet and I'm officially fed up of Christmas already.  Bah humbug.......  I just find this time of year really depressing.  Too keep busy I like to knit and I really love to bake.  In a strange way by focusing on my IBS food intolerances, helps keep the worst of the depression at bay.  Taking the time to make all my food from scratch is oddly relaxing and satisfying.  Which is why after baking all weeked for family, I felt the need to bake for myself. One of my previous experiments testing a new recipe for vegan oatmeal scones wasn't a total success, they tasted great but didn't rise.  So as usual when I'm less than impressed with the results, I go back to my grandma's 1950's  Good Housekeeping Cookery compendium for inspiration. I think we all forget...

Mr B's Giant chocolate chip cookie I don't know who started it, but since he was a toddler my nephew's family nickname has been Mr B.  His birthday is the day after his dad's and his baked goodie request was for one of my Giant Cookie's.  This time filled with chopped Rollo's, milk and white chocolate chunks.  What's better than a giant chocolate chip cookie?  Well getting to pipe your own initials on it off course........ I love baking with kids xxx He likes his cookies chewy in the middle, so I added some brown sugar to the recipe.  Which is probably why this wins the record for the biggest one Iv made to date, measuring in at 12 inch's wide.  Iv learnt where kids are involved size does matter, especially with cookies. It's easy make your own.  Take your favourite cookie recipe preferably one with a soft dough and pat down into a circle on a greased baking sheet.  Remember that the cookie will s...

Birthday Bakewell tart Most girls and boys, young and old usually get a shop bought cake for their birthday.   The fondant decorated ones look great, but can taste really sweet.   I like to make baked gifts that can't really be shop bought, based on the individuals taste.  My brother isn't keen on over sweet treats, but he does love Bakewell tart's making it the perfect birthday gift.   It's also the first bakewell tart Iv ever made, probably not the best time to test a new recipe!!! This time I got lucky, and it's turned out great.  I had to wash the bowl straight away, to stop myself licking it clean.  This is a full fat dairy version, which defiently won't agree with my IBS.  Here's hoping my little brother (1ft 1in taller than me) likes the taste. I really need to find a dairy free version of this recipe, so I can bake one for myself xxx TOP TIPS -For making a bakewell tart - Every Celebrity master chef recip...

 Scottish Oat Scones  I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm getting fed up of dairy free cakes and muffins.  I usually rotate what I bake so I don't get bored. However I think Iv been doing to much "baking therapy" lately, in an attempt to combat my usual winter blues.  Snacks are important, as I follow the little and often diet to control my IBS. The perfect snack for my IBS has got to be  Dairy free, low in sugar and portable.    So scones were the perfect solution as there more bread like, than muffins.  I have also recently found a variation of the traditional  recipe, that Iv been wanted to give I go.  Basically any excuse to bake in the kitchen.  These   Scottish Oat scones are made using a combination of melted butter, oil and plain yogurt.  So they were easy to make dairy free.  You could also make them egg free by using a substitute, though after baking the recipe I...

Master chef Australia had a brilliant challenge last night.  Rather than access to the fully stacked pantry, the contestants  had to randomly pick a fridge.  Each fridge had different ingredients to work with, consisting of the end of last week's grocery shopping and left overs.  (Uk's Watch channel on SKY) Brilliant idea,  how many times have we stood in front of an open fridge asking our selves the same question.  I was asking myself the very same question last night. What's in the fridge? and what I'm I going to make? Current fridge contents                                                         Store Cupboard 2 baking potato's       ...

That is the question?  Dairy free sweet potato and spring onion quiche It's really confusing, when do you need to blind bake a  pastry tart. If your adding a non baked filling to an pie shell, then yes I can understand it would need to be baked first.  However the Internet and most of my cookbooks are  full of conflicting advise.  Last time I made my dairy free quiche I didn't blind bake it and it turned out great.  So yesterday I decided to part blind bake the crust of the quiche I was making for my Tea. I finally got some use out of the dried soya beans I bought I few months.  (Did the whole soaking before  cooking thing but they still turned out hard!!!)  Placed some grease proof paper on top of the crust and filled with the beans to keep it from puffing up.  Note :  The bean's can not be cooked and eaten as normal after.  But you can Re-use the ...

 Mac and Pea's -Before and After I had my main meal at lunch time yesterday, so wanted something light for my tea.  So as usual, I visualised everything I currently had in my cupboards, so I could work out what would work together.   Then Mac and pea's randomly jumped to the front of my thought que.   Randoms the only way I can describe how my brain works, I always joke that it operates on a satellite delay.  Getting through daily life continually using anxiety management techniques is mentally tiring.  When I tell people that my brain starts to shut down at around 2pm, they never believe me till they've seen it for themselves.  Days, times and objects get mixed up.  I can mean one thing, and end up saying something else entirely. eg Hoovering the lawn/grass.  = Lawn mower Or I totally forget the name of the object and have to describe what it does, so the person I'm speaking too can guess what I'm ta...