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 ...

Bicarbonate of Soda Not just for baking I don't remember how it started, but it ended up as a joke between my mum and I.  All the things that you can do with bicarbonate of soda.  Every time we needed to do something in the house, "get the bicarb out" Why bicarbonate of soda? It's a chemical compound that's a type of salt. Historically it's been used in one form or another since the Egyptian times, when it was used in natural form as Natron. It's seen as Eco friendly, which is something we all need more of in this world.  It's the one kitchen item you can use to bake a cake, then clean the oven it was baked in.   The Kitchen helper - Chopping Board : To get rid of strong smells and odours from your chopping board, sprinkle on 3 tbsp of Bicarb followed by enough water to moisten.  Leave for 15 Min's, the rub well clean then dry. - Worktops :  Use the same principle as above, to clean down your worktops.  Only use ho...

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...

Product Review I first discovered Mash Direct products in the Dobbies garden centre Deli shop.  I really enjoyed them, however am not a gardener so have no reason to go to Dobbies often. So I was happily surprised when I found them again in the local Morrison's  Stores Free from chilled section.  Mash Direct products are all vegetarian and Gluten free.  They don't claimed to be dairy free, due to the production environment. Lucky for me some of their product recipes don't contain dairy.  I love the fact they are a British family farm, that are big fans of not wasting vegetables.  I'm a big wobbly veg supporter myself.  Turning non perfect vegetables into a product saves so much food waste.  It also helps keep the farm viable.  We really need to be supporting are British and Irish farmers.   Mash Direct Products "With six generations of farming expertise we are specialists in our field. We select older heritage varietie...

    Waste not, want not       Buy one, get one free......   www.channel4.com/4food   We all get taken in by Buy one, get one free bargains at the Supermarket.   Packaged foods are usually okay as they have a longer shelf life, however fresh food can cause problems. Before you buy.........   1. Check the best before date - Will you have enough time to eat it.  Can it be frozen?   2. Shop with a friend - My mum and I often shop for vegetables together and split the produce. That way we save money and reduce food waste.   3. Do you really need it? - This is a big one for me, I can get excited when I find a new product that I can eat. Especially when there is so much food that I can't....... It's easy to get carried away.    4. Make your own ready meals On my days off from work I like to make my own ready meals, so multi buys of fruit and vegetables are great...