Sharabelle bakes

Linda McCartney's Vegetarian Beef Roast with red wine & shallot glaze I wasn't looking forward to Christmas this year since it was the first one since dad had died. As someone with Mental health problems the festive season is not my favourite.  From my own personal experience it brings out the worst not the best in people.   So this year I decided to hibernate with a stack of books and some good food, my own idea of personal bliss.  The books turned out to be a great plan since the festive TV was so abysmal.  The food however had mixed reviews.   I started with my normal breakfast a lovely bowl of Scottish porridge, topped with fruit, yogurt, mixed seeds and a drizzle of honey.  As a nod to my favourite Childhood Christmas memories I then had a little chocolate. For lunch I planned to cook Vegetarian Beef Roast severed along with baby potatoes and Brussels sprouts.  I had really been looking forward to it, so was really disappointed when it finally

Free from Christmas Recipes Christmas Star Cookies I dread the Christmas season every year, since most of the festivities revolve around food.  I feel almost apologetic explaining my food intolerance's to people.  I'm the awkward person who's food requirements need to be taken into consideration.  While other people look forward to their works night outs or Christmas meals with friends , I end up researching the chosen  restaurant menu's to see not what I want to order, but what meal I can actually eat.  It's not a easy as you would think, as most vegetarian options include some form of cheese, or hidden Gluten.  I never really enjoy what I end up eating.   Being invited to family or friends house for Christmas dinner, fills me with anxiety and fear. I find it's more tactful to turn the invitation down, than try to explain my dietary needs.  If you have family or friends with the same problems as I am, Ive found some tasty and interesting vega

Sainsbury supermarket has one of the most comprehensive ranges of Free From foods.  There free from  Christmas  selection has also increased as well.  When I think of Christmas festive food, mince Pies immediately pop up in my mind.   Mince Pies are a main part of our British Christmas food traditions.  Thought the ones we eat today contain no minced meat. The originally ones were filled with a mix of minced meat, suet, dried fruit and spices, which usually included cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.  Only the rich could afford to buy spices, so were served to guests as a status symbol to show their wealth.   Modern mince pies thankfully no longer contain meat and the suet used is vegetarian not beef.  Households would have there own special recipe of mince meat, with their preferred blend of dried fruit and spices. They could soak the filling in brandy or rum. If you chose to make your own it has to be mixed clockwise as doing otherwise will bring bad luck for the New year.  

Christmas time is one of the hardest times of year for me, for  a lot of reasons.  Christmas reminds is of the people are who are no longer here.  This will be the first one without my dad.   It's a difficult time of year for those of us with mental health problems. My  depression and anxiety get worse, I find busy shops and streets hard to deal with.  My food intolerances increase my anxiety as well.  I dread the idea of eating out or being invited to someones house. Not everyone knows how to cater for those individuals with food intolerances.  I often wonder how many people feel they can't or just avoid inviting them at all.  There are so many foods that are naturally gluten and dairy free.   Free from foods are now more economical and readily available in our local supermarkets.  I've done some research and found ideas to share.  Hopefully making it easier for everyone this festive season.   ASDA Gluten, Wheat and Dairy free Asda £3.00 Make your o