Asda Free From Chocolate Sponge Cake

Covered in chocolate icing..............

...........and a chocolate fudge centre, not crumbly...........

........heat in the microwave for 30 secs or until the middle starts to melt..........

..........pour over some cream (Lactofree cream for me) or even add a scoop of your favourite ice cream!

Delicious!! Only £3 from Asda!

Recipe - Gluten Free Tagliatelle and Meatball Tomato Sauce

INGREDIENTS

Gluten Free Sausages

Gluten Free Tagliatelle

Passata

Spring Onions

Seasoning (garlic salt, celery salt, mixed herbs, thyme, all purpose seasoning, garlic powder, chilli powder)

STEP ONE

Take 4 sausages and pinch the meat out of the skin (3 to 4 pinches per sausage), you can roll each piece into a ball or leave as is before adding to a pan with a little oil (not necessary if you have a non stick pan.

STEP 2

Boil a pan of water for the tagliatelle

STEP THREE

Once the water is boiling add the tagliatelle to the pan, roughly 3 to 4 bunches per person

STEP FOUR

Stir/turn the meat balls so that they become brown all over

STEP FIVE

Cut up 2 spring onions and add to the browned meat balls

STEP SIX

Add the seasoning to the meatballs, according to taste and stir

STEP SEVEN

Open the passata and add to the meatballs, then stir

STEP EIGHT

once the tagliatelle has come to a boil, remove the lid and simmer until desired texture( alldente or soft) then rinse under cold water to stop the cooking

STEP NINE

Once the meatball sauce has simmered and reduced (thicker, richer colour) remove from the heat

STEP TEN

Plate up the tagliatelle and add the meatball sauce on top

You can garnish with cheese/herbs/black pepper

ENJOY!

Costa - Turkey, Bacon and Cranberry Gluten Free Wrap

After a very busy morning rushing across London, I dashed into Costa in London Bridge to grab lunch before I got the bus to work.  I had read about the new Turkey, Bacon and Cranberry Gluten Free Wrap previously but  this was not on my mind when I stepped into Costa as I was in a rush.

I just headed straight to the fridge and scanned the shelves looking for a gluten free wrap, when I saw it I thought "hmmm ok, I guess this is it then" as it was my only option.

The filling looks to be quite evenly distributed but I can honestly say that I didn't taste a thing, now this could have been due to the fact that I was pre-occupied whilst eating (multitasking after rushing around all morning).  I remember a hint of smokiness from the bacon and tanginess of the cranberry but other than that it was just wrap and mayonnaise!

I am thankful for the fact that I was able to pick up something for lunch at all but only one option is basically saying take it or leave it and I can't exactly go into any shop to get something substantial to eat (when I forget my lunch at home).

It filled the hunger but it's not something I would rush back to get.

Price I think was around £3 

Gluten Free Christmas Treats

I have started to stock up on some GF Christmas treats so that I do not miss out like I did last year, as it was my first GF Christmas I spent so much time trying different brands of mince pies that by the time I went back to stock up on the ones I liked they were out of stock.

These were in Asda for £1.50 so I picked up two boxes, one box is at my mums house for safe keeping, as I have already demolished the box I kept at home (I bought these about 2 weeks prior to December)

When I opened them I remembered that although they tasted good and have a good filling to pastry ratio, they were the ones with the soggy bottom!

It's not soggy as in doughy, but they are transparent as if the filling is ready to drop out at any minute 

So yesterday I remembered where I bought the ones I liked last year, Wholefoods, so took a little detour on my way to work and picked theses up 

Good old Hale & Hearty! As soon as I saw the box (although last year I think it was black) the pictures of the mince pies confirmed that these were the right ones.

Although the price on the shelf said £4.99 when I got to the till they were £3.89. Very pricey but well worth the money

Slightly battered but I'm sure they will taste as good as I remember, very tempted to go and buy another box.

Another thing that was sold out when I wanted it lasted year was the Lactofree Cream, I am yet to buy any as need to find out the shelf life and/or if it is freezable, failing that I have noted 4 to 5 different stores that stock it in my area so hopefully I will get hold of one (or two) before they all disappear.

Now I never use to eat Christmas pudding, mainly because most of them contain nuts, but not only did I find a GF and DF one, its nut free too, thank-you Asda (although I did see the Waitrose one first)

It's a small one, just enough for one portion, so I bought one for my little brother as well because he too is allergic to nuts so has never had Xmas pud before.  These were £1.50 each.

When I saw these Mincemeat Crumble Squares in Asda I could not resist (bought the rocky road ones as well) and when I tasted them they did not disappoint

They did not stay in my cupboard for very long! At £2.00 I thought it was pricey, but again they were worth it and I will purchase another box to add to the treats at my mums house, then I at least have some variety over Christmas week.

Today (3/12/14) I picked up an Advent Calendar

At £2.69 it was the cheapest one I saw as it is free from gluten, wheat an dairy, however it does contain soya, it is towards the end of the list so I'm hoping it should be ok.

They had a larger selection in Wholefoods but at £4.99 I really didn't think it was worth it. I may go back in next week maybe and see if they have reduced the price.

Although these are not a Christmas treat per se, I picked up some Genius Lemon Cupcakes because I haven't had them since my first purchase and the Christmas packaging caught my eye.

I thought the lemon would be refreshing from all the chocolate and mince pies, except I know these won't last until Xmas week!

Enjoy your Christmas shopping!

Farmville 2: Country Escape - The Reindeer Rendezvous Event

Recipes below.........

PHASE ONE

Marshmallow found when harvesting Corn

Cocoa Powder found in Pond, Mine, Pier, Glade or by tending to Prized Animals

Recipes

PASTRY OVEN
Event Marshmallow Snowman - Event Marshmallow x 3, Strawberry x 3, Sugar x 2 - 20m

Event Snow Angel Cookies - Event Cocoa Powder x 1, Sugar x 2, Flour x 2 - 4m

DAIRY
Event Hot Cocoa - Event Cocoa Powder x 2, Event Marshmallow x 2, Cow Milk x 2 - 10m

PHASE TWO

Event Cinnamon found in Pond, Mine, Pier, Glade or by tending to Prized Animals

Event Peppermint found when harvesting Strawberries

Recipes

PASTRY OVEN

Event Cinnamon Rolls - Event Cinnamon x 2, Flour x 2, Egg x 3 - 30m

STOVETOP

Event Candy Cane - Event Peppermint x 2, Sugar x 3 - 1h

Event Peppermint Spice Cider - Event Cinnamon x 1, Event Peppermint x 2, Apple x 4 - 5m

PHASE THREE

Chestnuts found when harvesting Peaches

Ginger found in Pond, Mine, Pier, Glade or tending Prized Animals

Recipes

DINNER OVEN
Event Roasted Chestnuts - Event Roasted Chestnuts x 3, Herb Butter x 1 - 20m

PASTRY OVEN
Event Gingerbread Couple - Event Ginger x 1, Flour x 4, Butter x 3 - 15m

Event Gingerbread House - Event Ginger x 2, Mint x 1, Flour x 2 - 20m

STOVETOP
Event Nutty Gingerbread Latte - Event Ginger x 1, Event Chestnuts x 2, Cow Milk x 4 - 8m

PHASE FOUR

Event Holly found by harvesting tomatoes

Event Cotton found in Pond, Mine, Pier, Glade or tending Prized Animals

Recipes

LOOM
Event Winter Blend Mittens - Event Cotton x 2, Wool x 1 - 1h

Event Winter Blend Top Hat - Event Cotton x 2, Event Holly x 2, Wool x 2 - 20m

CRAFT WORKSTATION
Event Winter Wreath - Wvent Holly x 4, Tin x 1, Wheat x 4 - 1h

Event Holly Garland - Event Holly x 1, Event Cotton x 2, Tin x 1 - 30m