Sharabelle bakes

Traditional scone's One of my favourite topics of conversation is food.  I can get over exciting talking about food and recipes.   I often take it for granted that people have the same cooking knowledge as I do.  However I've come to realise that I was lucky to have a mum and grandma to teach me how to cook and bake. Over the years Iv discovered a lot of ways of how not to do things in the kitchen. For me kitchen disasters, are just a way of learning what not to do. This knowledge comes in handy when people ask me for advice.  Scones is top of the list of recipe that I'm asked about.    There are 2 recipes below that I use, the second one is for soda bread.  When my hands started to get bad due to fibromyalgia, the soda bread recipe was the  easiest  one to make.  Sometimes we have to adapt the way we could and bake to make up for health problems.   TOP TIPS Mindful baking   I practise m...

FROZEN VEG SOUP I had a duuh moment, the idea is so simple I can't really call it a recipe.  It's just so obvious, I really can't believe I didn't think of it before. Since being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, my life has changed a lot.  I have gone from being an enthusiastic cook, to someone afraid of using a knife.  The Fibro means my hand can often shake.  I tried using my blender to chop my veg, which worked great.  Until it came to cleaning it, when I cut my hand on the blade.  I have had to adapt the way I cook, to make it safer. Frozen chopped vegetables are available in every supermarket and there is now a wider range of available. From simple bags of frozen chopped carrots, to mixed vegetables. My nearest supermarket Morrisons, now have chopped sweet potato.   They are also now more affordable, making them ideal for cooking with. Frozen vegetables are just as good as fresh. In some cases they are better, since they are f...

Top 5 Tips For managing IBS Managing IBS is not all about avoiding certain foods. Sometimes other basics changes can help just as much.  These small changes helped both my mum and I lessen our symptoms.  1: Caffeine Avoid caffeine, it's a stimulant and not great if u have a sensitive digestive system or bladder.  Switching to decaffeinated really does help reduce IBS symptoms.  2: Soft drinks Avoid soft drinks. Carbonated drinks are gassy and either overloaded with sugar or made with artificial sweeteners.   Artificial sweeteners can also be an IBS trigger. Consuming too much of them can have a laxative affect.  3: High fat food Ditch the deep fried food, and oven bake instead.  Too much fatty food isn't great for any diet. However it have a worse effect on those of us with IBS.  Baked instead of fried food might take longer but it tastes just as great.   Try chopping a large potato or sweet potato int...

10 EASY WAYS TO MAKE QUICK MEALS When I talk about cooking with friends and family one familiar phrase I always hear is  "I don't have the time" Some Ready  meals take the same time to cook in the microwave, as I can make from scratch.  So no matter how much or little time I have, I am never far from a cooked meal.     The best thing I ever did was not to replace my microwave when it broke.   It does not take that much longer to cook or re-heat food on the stove. Making your own quick meals, cuts down on the additives you eat and more importantly it saves you money.   My food shopping bills have gone down and eating less processed food helps me manage my IBS symptoms.  Still not convinced have a look below for my favourite quick meals. No 1:     The 3 P's - Pasta   Fresh pasta only takes a few minutes to cook.  Whereas Dried pasta takes between 10 - 12 Min's to cook. ...

LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE Its a new year so it's time for a new project. Why?  Well I get bored very easily and find it best to have something to keep me occupied.  I'm really dangerous when bored......  Side effect of having an anxiety problem, I find it hard to relax and just sit down.  Funny enough my brothers are the same. Doing nothing and relaxing is really hard...... Writing my blog is one way I can stay busy, while still remaining in a seated position.   It's taken me a while but I have finally picked my next project for 2014..... Waste not want not My New Years resolution for 2013 was to reduce my food waste.  It seemed appropriate since our local council have started a new recycle system.  Along with my paper/cardboard bins, they have added one for tins and plastics and food waste.  I've decided to go one further this year and blog some practical ideas Iv discovered to reduce waste and save a ...

Misson:  Baking Pretty I've just spent the last 3 nights sleeping in my bed, instead of the couch.  Which is a big thing to me.  I normally end up sleeping there due to my IBS, It's just easier to get into a comfy position that's enables me to sleep better.   If it's not the IBS, then it's due to my Anxiety Disorder and depression.  I don't like sleeping in bed when I'm having a bad day, I'm always afraid I wont want to get out of it the next day.   Where I know I will get off the couch, because the blanket and pillows will annoy me.   Lol it's my own form of anxiety management, I try too use my negative traits in a positive way.   After a few years of really bad insomnia, it's not where I sleep that counts.  My Doctor told me, it's getting sleep that really matters.  No matter where I sleep I'm usually awake between 5 am or 7 am.  Since I was up early I decided to practise my b...