Sharabelle bakes

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 ...

Tis the season to be jolly Buying Christmas presents for people with food allergies or intolerances, can be hard.  Free From foods can be more expensive than regular varieties, so they are  perfect gift idea. My mum always makes sure I have my favourite Dairy free Caramels filled Chocolates in my Christmas stocking.    This Christmas there seems to be  a greater variety of free from food products available in our  supermarkets.    There are gingerbread stars and christmas tree's to bake with the rest of the family.  Selection boxes to put in their stockings.  Mince pies and christmas cake to suite everyones taste.   There are also plenty savoury ingredients to make your Christmas dinner meal perfect.  There are gluten and dairy free pastries, so you can bake your own pies or tarts.  Along with Gluten free crackers and dairy free Cheese.   Down below is a small selection of m...

Rice pudding is one of my all time favourite comfort foods.  My mum used to make baked rice pudding for us, when we were kids.  We would fight over who would get the skin that was on top.  Rice pudding is an easy recipe to make dairy free, gluten free and vegan.  The recipes I've found could easily be served at a dinner party. Not just for a family meal.   It has always fascinated me,  how many global variations of the same basic recipe there are.  Did it happen because of global travel and migration.  Or did a lot of cooks just have the same idea.  Vegan Coconut rice pudding   from neurotic mommy Using tinned coconut milk makes this recipe extra creamy.  I love to top mine with fruit compote.  Rice pudding is one of those dishes that can be served hot or cold.     Zardah recipe  from In search of Suckoon Pakistani Royal Dessert made with Sweet Yellow Rice and loads of nuts, raisins, murabbas an...

Things to do list - Recipes I need to make My recent blog on cake has left me craving a sweet dessert.  Since It's like going on a treasure hunt trying to find a restaurant that serves both a vegan and gluten free one, I'll just have to make my own.   Vegan coconut Panna cotta  - from Green Evi's blog The photo is gorgeous, even better there are only 3 ingredients in the recipe.  Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best.  She's served it with fresh fruit, which adds a splash of colour.  I can't wait to try this recipe myself. No bake sweet potato cake  - Green Evie's blog Another recipe from Green Evie's blog.  It's a really unique recipe, I would never have thought of using sweet potato this way.  The shredded coconut and cocoa powder act as a binder in this recipe.  I'm really interested to try this one out. Vegan Chocolate pie  - from Food 52  I've used silken tofu in...

It started with a jar of  peanut butter! Ever since discovering P&J sandwiches I have loved peanut butter.  My mum's the same, I prefer crunchy while she prefers smooth.  We also love  Whole Earth  peanut butter, so were really impressed to find Morrison's doing their own brand.  100% peanut butter with no other additives.  How could it not taste good?  Well it didn't...... Peanuts have a natural oil and a film had developed in the top of both our jars.  I had to store mine in the fridge so it could firm up, even then it just didn't taste right.   I hate wasting any type of food, so my solution was to use it for baking or cooking.  Since I'm getting back to basics and trying to learn to bake gluten free, I decided to make flapjacks.   Peanut butter Flapjack Recipe  - Realfood.tesco.com  The recipe calls for dates to be added, I didn't have any so left them out.  The recipe was ...

Discovered these at my local Morrisons Store today.  I love finding new products to try.  These are great as they are Vegan, wheat free and Gluten free.  They are all priced at £2.00, so they work out at 50p each.  Which is pretty reasonable for a free from product.   Chocolate and Vanilla Cones   Strawberry and Vanilla Cones Chocolate and Vanilla Lion Iced Dessert I bought the Chocolate and Vanilla Cone, to try out.  The dairy free ice cream tastes good, but the cone wasn't really crisp.  It's been a few years since I last ate a cornetto, so I can't remember what they tasted like.  But I do remember that a few did have a cone crispness issue as well.   That sounds really weird I know, but how else do you describe it!!! If you try them out, let me know what you think of them xx

CHOCOLATE CRISPY CAKES The below Choc crispies recipe are my Grandmas.  Written in the back of my prized possession, her 1950's Good Housekeeping cookbook.   June is the anniversary of her death.  So in honour of her memory I thought Id make some crispy cakes. When ever there was Jumble sale or fundraiser for the local scouts, she we be right their.  Her first stop would be the cake and bake stall.  The treats were always the handmade ones that you would never be able to buy in your local baker.  Simple things like marshmallow top hats, Scotch pancakes. This was one of the first things I learned to make with my mum.  It's also one of the easiest recipes to make dairy free, gluten free and even better it's vegan. You can use either gluten free Cornflakes or Rice Crispies, they both work just as well.  Grandmas recipe uses cocoa powder and cadburys flakes for hers.  I prefer to use melted chocolate in mine. I had to chuckle a...

Top 5 Basic Baked Recipes  - Dairy free If you can make your own, then why buy??????  These are road tested dairy free and vegan baked recipes. I'm lactose intolerant so I know the importance of a good recipe that can easily be adapted. What I've discovered is that there are 5 main base recipes that I use the most. Adjusting the ingredients and flavours to fit the season or occasion.  Or what ever food I'm craving that day x These 5 basic recipes, makes baking dairy free a whole lot easier.  1. Quick Bread Beetroot Soda Bread Scones Basic Soda Bread Recipe 8 oz Self Raising Flour 1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda 200 ml Dairy free milk 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar Pinch of Salt Pre-heat your oven to 230 Celsius Measure and dry ingredients, flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a bowl. Whisk to mix in the ingredients. Make a well in the centre and pour in 200 ml milk & vinegar Use a knife to bring the dough together. If you still have some flour at th...

Alpro Ice cream When I saw this was on offer at my local Morrisons Store, I decided to treat myself.  The weather has been so hot in Scotland, so perfect for Ice Cream. The Ice Cream was easy to scoop out of the Tub, it has a nice smooth texture and melted on the tongue.  You can just make out the taste of the Hazelnut, through the Chocolate flavour.  It's not as strong a taste as Nutella, but I liked that. They 2 flavours were evenly blended together.  I prefer dark chocolate, so could have done with a stronger flavour.  However those of us that like dark chocolate are in the minority.  I believe this one would be perfect for children.  I didn't become lactose Intolerant until I was an adult, so can only imagine how a child must feel when others get to eat ice cream. The tub is only 500ml and retails at £3:50.  Dairy free ice cream costs more because they need to ensure strict hygiene throughout the process to stop cross cont...

Bella Italia - Gluten free/Dairy free Review Normally when planning to eat out with friends, it's not a case of where do you want to go.  It's where can you eat? Then there may only be one thing on the menu that's suitable.  Restaurants seem to think that all vegetarian food must contain some form of dairy, normally cheese.  Which is not great for those of us that are lactose intolerant or for vegans.  I'm a gluten and lactose intolerant pescatarian, which makes it even more difficult when eating out. Bella Italia is different though they have gluten free pasta and pizza dough alternatives available on there menu.  I've eaten at my local restaurant several times and the staff are always friendly. They are also great at advising what meals I can eat.  I always double check when ordering that no dairy is used in a meal, for example the fish dish I love has salsa Verde which contains cheese. Bella Italia Lenticchie  - Vegan w it...