Sharabelle bakes

theartfulgourmet.com You don't need to be Scottish to love porridge.  Different nations around the globe all have their own versions, some made with other grains like rice.  It's the perfect breakfast for cold winters mornings.  As us Brits say "It sticks to your bones" There is one thing that really puzzles me though.  I find it hard to understand why people spend money on more expensive porridge just because it's in individual sachets.  The larger bags are more value for money, and just as easy to make.   Why buy golden syrup flavoured porridge sachets, when all you need to do is top your porridge with the real thing. One Portion Porridge recipe 2:1 ratio 1/2 Cup Porridge Oats 1 Cup liquid  (milk, dairy free milk, water) Add oats and liquid to a small pan and turn the hob onto a low heat.  Occasionally stir, till the porridge starts to bubble.  Then stir more frequently.  Once it reaches your prefe...

Dairy free Fish pie There's a local Scottish tradition to have Steak Pie on New years day.   I didn't learn about till we move to down to Fife, so it might just be a Central Scotland Tradition along with supper.  Supper -  a fourth meal eaten late in the evening. In Aberdeen shire we just have a cup of tea or cocoa and a biscuit before going to bed.  So I got kind of confused at a sleep over at a friends, when they started cooking sausages?     Then again each region in Scotland has their own traditions, customs and food specialities.  Back to the steak pie, I'm trying to create new traditions for myself this year.   I'm trying to put back some of the old joy I used to feel during the festive season.  Only this year because of my IBS, Steak is off the menu along with every other kind of meat and poultry. If I couldn't have Steak pie, why not Fish pie.  It's still a pie....... ...

STRANGE BUT TRUE If your lactose  intolerant you might be surprised to find that shops own brand products are more often dairy free than there more expensive counter parts.  Asda smart price   Digestive biscuits Ingredients - Wheat Flour, Vegetable oil, sugar, wholemeal flour, partially inverted sugar syrup, Raising agents (sodium bicarbonate, Ammonium Carbonates) salt Allergy info - Contains Gluten & Wheat, May contain nuts or seeds. I bake my own cookies, biscuits and cakes.  Once in a while it would be great to buy some instead, however Iv found that Free from brands are generally more expensive.    To be universal allergy free, products are usually free of just about everything.  Gluten, wheat, nuts and dairy. I only need them to be dairy free........ It all started with chocolate covered peppermint creams.  I made my own for Christmas, they taste great but are really messy to eat.  Next...

Beach at Costa Teguise  I went from drinking peppermint tea at a beach side cafe on Thursday morning, only to travel back to the Scottish cold weather.   On the positive side, we were just glad there was no snow!!! Iv survived a week without a computer or Internet access, keeping only a travel journal so I could note down useful information for other food intolerant holiday makers.  Whether for yourself, family member or friend. First Blog - Airport Food. The first stage of any holiday is coping with Airport food.  You need to arrive early to check in for your flight or like us the night before, so I spent a lot of pre-holiday planning on finding places I could eat.  We travelled from Glasgow airport so I checked out the Places to eat on the Airport website. I'm pretty limited in what I can eat.  Dairy free, yeast free, meat free, low sugar and low fat.  Wetherspoon' s  - The Sandpiper -Before airport Security - ...

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...

Banana and blueberry muffins A few years ago I started to write my favourite recipes into one cookbook.  It saved me from having to remember which book they were in.  Since then, Iv added to them as Iv found recipes in magazines, on the Internet or been given them from friends.  Recipes that are still to be tested are placed on scrap paper in the front of the book.  As you can imagine It's stained with cake batter and nearly falling apart.  I came up with a great idea to make a new one and get it printed.  Type "make your own cookbook" into your Internet search engine, and you'll find lots of websites who will allow you to do that.  It's a great Christmas present idea for family.   My problem is some of my recipes are still works in progress, and not really print ready.  So I came up with my own solution.  At the Pantry canteen, regularly made recipes are printed or photocopied.  Then stored in an A4 Ring binder, and k...