Who would have thought that Clive’s Pies do more than just pies?! Clive’s Pies also produce amazing Gluten Free Cakes; all of which are also Dairy Free & completely Organic! I can think of no better way to spend my afternoon, than to gobble my way through a few beautiful gluten free cakes from Clive and the gang! 

I met up with Sally, who runs Clive’s Pies, at The Allergy & Free From Show 2015. It was great to have a chat about what is truly important to her in terms of the business. Basically, they don’t mass produce. They could, but they don’t. Clive’s Pies is all about fresh local organic ingredients, hand prepared in their own kitchen. They also fully stand by the idea that ‘free from’ foods should in no way compromise taste… You can understand my excitement when I got the chance to grab 5 different gluten free & dairy free cakes!

I thought I would tease you all by giving each one a taste & letting you know what I think:

1) Almond Bliss

One of the ingredients in Clive’s Pies Almond Bliss is LOVE. I think that says it all. No, really, I actually can taste the love in this cake. 41% of this cake is made up of organic almonds, a huge amount by any cake’s standards & it makes such a difference. This cake melts in the mouth like a little almond dream. You can definitely taste a slight hint of cinnamon coming through alongside the almond too. I’ve never tasted anything quite like it, and I love it!

2) Lemon Lust

A little bit of Lemon heaven. This cake ticked all of my boxes. It was moist, lemony and damn right delicious! The lemon was refreshing & zesty yet not too sharp. It was a perfect mid afternoon cake to enjoy with my Mum! I mean, who doesn’t love a lemon cake?!

3) Choco Mocha

I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this cake. I am not a huge chocolate fan & I’m not a coffee drinker (though I do love a good coffee & walnut cake!) However, this cake surprised me more than any of them. The coffee was perfectly subtle and complimented the dark chocolate. I certainly will be grabbing another one of these cakes in the future. A delicious & different gluten free choice.

4) Coconut Dream

I ended up sharing this little beauty with my Dad. We both agreed it smelt somewhat like a more tropical Mr Kipling Lemon Slice (remember those?!). Coconut in cakes is definitely one of my favourites, I love both the taste and the texture. The coconut blended into the zesty citrus flavours really well. It was almost like an exotic macaroon, I could do with one now!

5) Chocolate Brownie

The humble chocolate brownie. The cake that every gluten free eater seems to love to hate. I can totally understand that. We do see too many gluten free cafes & coffee shops these days. However, it is always nice to try a different companies take on the chocolate brownie. Clive’s Pies Chocolate Brownie is rich alright… it is really rich! It is also filled with one of my favourite nuts… the walnut! For a gluten free brownie, this ticked all the boxes & more. Warm up with ice cream anyone?!

So…

There you have it, Clive’s Pies get a massive thumbs up from me. I love what the brand stands for and how all their products are handmade in small batches to ensure the best quality. I’m not sure I could rank these gluten free delights in order of my favourite. I did love the almond bliss though! There is definitely a little something for everyone within their gluten free cakes range.

Where to buy?

I find Clive’s Pies in quite a few local independent stores around where I live & places that I have visited. However, if you can’t find them there both Ocado & Goodness Direct allow you to purchase a whole range of Clive’s Pies products online. I would highly recommend the gluten free & dairy free cakes, but of course Clive’s Pies are also famous for pies… so you might like to give one of them a try too!

Have you ever tried one of Clive’s Pies cakes? Which of the ones I have mentioned do you like the sound of? Let me know by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

How are there SO MANY different postal snack boxes these days?! I have tried out so many different ones over the years, so I thought I’d try out Snackly. Snackly is actually a Coeliac Friendly, Gluten Free Snack Box!

 According to Snackly Founders, Sami & Yas who are both Gluten Free themselves: 

“being Coeliac or Gluten Free doesn’t mean you have to miss out on awesome snacks so we’ve made a snack box that tastes great for everyone! All Snackly boxes are Gluten Free, Coeliac Friendly, and full of new and delicious treats.”

I really like the though process behind Snackly. & what I also like is that this gluten free snack box is filled with brands I haven’t even heard of. They source all their products from a variety of companies across the UK. A Snackly Gluten Free Snack Box for me personally is a great way to come across new brands without having to go searching. It simply just arrived in the post & the contents were a complete surprise. What a great thing to come home to! So here is what I received in my very first gluten free snack box from Snackly!

1) Kent & Fraser – Lemon Butter Shortbread

This Lemon Shortbread from Kent & Fraser was one of my favourites. It was incredibly refreshing from the zesty lemon & also had that all important melt in the mouth shortbread texture. I’d happily enjoy some more of their biscuits again anytime!

2) Easy Bean – Chickpea Crispbread  

This crisp bread has the most flavour of any crisp bread I have ever tried! I love anything that has a subtle hint of black pepper & these certainly do. The buttermilk sounded slightly pointless to me, but there is a slight almost creamy, cheese flavour that comes through that I assume must be from that. Of course the seedy texture is a winner too. If I could buy these easily in a big packet  I would. Perfect snack, & perfect to have with some cheese or dips. 

3) The Sweet Reason Company – Salted Caramel Brownie

This gluten free brownie confused me on looks. It looked dense, delicious & naughty. However, it also looked like it might be a raw style brownie. Fortunately (I am not a big fan of too many raw things) this salted caramel brownie is the former! It is moist, it is delicious & if it was huge I would feel very naughty eating it! Luckily, it is the perfect size to indulge in. It tastes divine, seriously the smell alone when I opened the packet made me drool. (I love Salted Caramel anything!!)

4) Peace of Cake London – Fruit & Nut Biscotti

Whenever I am in a coffee shop I always see folks enjoying a biscotti with their coffee. Now, I might not be a coffee drinker but I will always want the biscuit that goes alongside the coffee! That’s why when I saw this gluten free & dairy free biscotti biscuit I was quite excited! They were filled with lots of my favourite nuts.. pistachios, hazelnuts & almonds. It seems the perfect thing for coffee shops to offer. Why should the gluten free amongst us not get their biscotti!

5) Beech’s – Anglesey Sea Salt Milk Chocolate

Who can resist a bar of chocolate? Not me. This chocolate looked delicious & I also noticed it’s been produced up the road in Preston since 1920! Eating chocolates that you know have been locally produced, using traditional methods, just tastes better. This milk chocolate had a delicate addition of sea salt which I really liked. I thought you only got salted caramel, not salted chocolate… but now I will be on the look out for more salted chocolate too!

6) Nothing But – Apple & Fig Snack

I’m always up for trying something new and this freeze dried snack was definitely something new for me. It definitely ticks all the boxes if you are looking for a flavoursome, healthy snack – both the apple and fig pieces are bursting with flavour. Whilst the freeze dried texture of these fruit slices might not be my cuppa tea, I’m pretty sure it’s the sort of snack that would suit a lot of people. Especially those wanting convenient, on the go snacks, when fresh fruit might not be an option. I must admit, Mark has taken them off me and is eating them right now, he loves them!

So…

When I think about all the items I received in this Snackly Gluten Free Snack Box it seems to me that all these little gluten free snacks would be most perfectly placed throughout the travel sector. It would be so easy to offer so many of these snacks, (& the snack boxes as a whole) to airlines, train companies, service stations etc. I often travel long distances on trains & rarely find any suitable gluten free snacks. These snacks are all new & different to me. It would be a joy to find them on offer whilst travelling.

However, as this is not an option right now, buying a Snackly Gluten Free Snack Box every month or so seems the perfect alternative. At least when travelling you’ll always have something gluten free & potentially new in your bag! This is definitely the kind of situation I will continue to enjoy my gluten free snack box in. With different brands every single month & it being a complete surprise who knows what I will get next!

Have you tried out the Snackly Gluten Free Snack Boxes? What did you think? Do you like the whole concept of snack boxes in the post? Have you got any other favourite companies that create a gluten free snack box? Let me know by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter. 

DISCOUNT CODE FOR 50p off a Gluten Free Snackly Box: GLUTENFREECUPPATEA

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

It can be so difficult knowing what edible gifts to buy somebody on a gluten free diet. It can often even become quite stressful for some folk. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case as I have just found out that The Great Little Baking Company have now started creating treats that would make the perfect gluten free gift!

I decided to venture back down south to the family home for a weekend in June to enjoy some quality time with my parents. Seeing as it was Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June, it seemed the perfect opportunity. I wanted to bring something with me as a tasty treat that we could all enjoy, not just my Dad! It’s always nice that we can all enjoy edible gifts together; too many times in the past I have had to sit out & I don’t think that is nice for anyone to see.

I came across The Great Little Baking Company by complete chance on social media & decided to check out their site. I always like to have a little nosey to see whether gluten free is an option… & sure enough it was! They create the perfect gluten free gift in the form of homebaked brownies. But HOLD ON before you just think… more brownies… these brownies are much more advanced! These brownies are not just your bog standard plain chocolate brownies. Butterscotch, Lemon & White Chocolate, Chilli and Triple Choc are all available & all sound delish!

The Butterscotch Brownies sounded the most appealing to my parents tastebuds so I got us a box to enjoy over the Father’s Day weekend. First things first, they come packaged in a really lovely silver tin with a pink ribbon. Within the tin, the brownies are wrapped in soft pink tissue paper. As a gluten free gift, it immediately looked appealing and ticked the visual boxes. The packaging felt special & luxurious… I was really hoping the butterscotch brownies inside would live up to the stylish packaging!

The Butterscotch brownies are made with a mix of walnuts and white chocolate. Of course they don’t look like your traditional brownie as milk/dark chocolate are not present within them. Instead they are a beautiful golden colour. The white chocolate chunks and walnuts are clearly visible throughout & the smell that comes from each brownie is almost fudge like.

Of course, this level of attractiveness for our eyes and ears was too much temptation for our tastebuds, & we had to dive in. These brownies are heaven. They are every single bit as indulgent & luxurious as you would hope from the packaging. Each bite gives you a mouthful of white chocolate and walnut, and this flavour combination, although something I’m not completely familiar with, workings amazingly.

We all agreed the butterscotch brownies tasted really moist and almost creamy, coming from the white chocolate. They are almost fudge like in flavour. I would definitely recommend them if you are looking for a gluten free gift for a friend with a sweet tooth! The richness of them means you definitely couldn’t eat too much at a time, but what you do eat will be the nicest few mouthfuls of your day!

So, if you’re in need of a gluten free gift for someone you know (or for yourself!) Then I highly recommend checking out The Great Little Baking Company. Additionally if you just want to treat yourself to a good looking tin of delicious treats, also check out The Great Little Baking Company! I would definitely recommend the Butterscotch Brownies if you have a bit of a sweet tooth & are sick of standard chocolate brownies. The white chocolate & lemon gluten free brownies sound great too.

Have you ever tried anything from The Great Little Baking Company? What other places would you suggest for a edible gluten free gift (if baking yourself is not an option?) oh, & what is your favourite flavour to make a brownie… less ‘brownie’ like?! Let me know by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

So, it has been a few days since The Allergy & Free From Show now, & I thought it was the perfect opportunity to compile my thoughts about the weekend, in a Free From Show Review! Oh, & give you some Gluten Free Recommendations!
I have already put up some blogs & vlogs about The Allergy & Free From Show 2015:

• The Allergy & Free From Show 2015 – The Movie – Click Here
• Gluten Free Haul from The Allergy & Free From Show 2015 – Click Here

I thought I’d start off with a few (or a few handfuls!) of gluten free brands that really caught me eye this weekend, some were completely new to me, others I have been a huge fan of for quite a while! So here are my Gluten Free Recommendations:

1) Ananda Foods

Mark & I discovered this brand at The Allergy & Free From Show in 2013 & have loved them ever since. Gluten Free Wagon Wheels… you what? Yes for real. Gluten Free, Dairy Free & Egg Free (they are a Vegan brand).

2) B-Tempted

If you have never heard of B-Tempted before, you should have. This Allergy & Free From Show was the very first time I tried out any of their products & I am so glad I did. B-Tempted makes beautiful gluten free cakes with a hint of luxury without going over the top. The flavour combinations just work!

3) Cocoa Libre

I love everything about Cocoa Libre. All of their chocolate is gluten free but equally importantly it is also dairy free. They do amazing flavours likes milk chocolate honeycomb & also do amazing shaped chocolate (owls, sheep, chicks, bears & frogs), for the kids or the ‘big kids’ amongst us!

4) Delicious Alchemy

I have always loved Delicious Alchemy. A brand that introduced me to the wonders of rice flakes instead of oats to make porridge. They also introduced me to amazing gluten free cake & brownie mixes when I usually just make my own. These mixes are perfect to have in the cupboard & are so quick & convenient.

5) Isabel’s Cuisine Ltd

All I can say is Gluten Free & Dairy Free Doughnut Mix! I am so, so silly for not buying one of these at the show. However, Isabel’s is definitely one of my big Gluten Free Recommendations… they have so many other delicious mixes you have got to try too. (Gluten Free Dough Balls, yes!)

6) Kirsty’s

Kirsty’s is an amazing brand. Kirsty herself is a lovely human being too. I always enjoy having a chat with her at the show & this year was no exception. Her free from ready meals are tasty & full of goodness. I would highly recommend keeping your eyes peeled for even more new meals arriving soon!

7) Ms Cupcake

You can always spot the Ms Cupcake stand at any Allergy & Free From Show, you will always be able to spot Ms Cupcake herself too! She makes wonderful cakes… all of which are vegan (thus dairy free & egg free) & at the Allergy Show this time round, everything she brought along was gluten free – perfect!

8) NO.G – Too good to be gluten free

I was very excited to go and check out this stand at The Allergy & Free From Show this year. I have been a fan of their hot pies & have bought many in Sainsbury’s in the past. What was more exciting this time round was their new Sausage Rolls & Pork Pies. Both delicious – can’t wait till they hit the shelves!

9) Pudology

I’ve been a massive Pudology fan for a very long time so I had to put them in as one of my top gluten free recommendations. If you didn’t know already all of their puddings are also dairy free. I am a big fan of their Banoffee Pud, however at the show I tried their new Mango Yog & was blown away.. amazing!

10) Romeo’s Gluten Free Bakery

It was amazing to see that not only were brands coming out to say hello at the show this year but local cafes and bakeries too! Romeo’s is a completely gluten free bakery/cafe based in Islington, London. I bought enough bread to keep me going for a long while, & it’s one of the best I’ve ever had! I would highly recommend popping down to Romeo’s for some lunch, cakes, pastries or just some fresh bread ASAP!

11) Sensitive Souls

Sensitive Souls was a lovely find at The Allergy & Free From Show 2015. I heard about them a couple of days before & was determined to find them & try some treats! All gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soya free etc. I fell in love with the Millionaire Shortbread & the Rocky Road!

12) The Pastry Room

The Pastry Room is a really interesting concept that I came across for the first time at The Allergy & Free From Show. They produce a superfine, frozen pastry mix that you literally add just water to & it creates the best gluten free pastry. No defrosting needed either. It is such a simple concept & the results are delicious!

13) Venice Bakery UK

 

You’ll never have a bad gluten free pizza again if you just use Venice Pizza bases. I have loved these bases for so long. They are as authentic as they come. If you haven’t tried them before I urge you to head over to their website & grab a few. Best life decision ever.

14) Violife

I love Violife cheese. It is one of the best, most versatile dairy free cheeses around. From soft spreads, to hard cheeses. Cheddar, Mozzarella & now Parmesan.. there is something for every occasion. Click here for my latest dairy free parmesan cheese review from Violife.

15) Wholesome Bakes

Wholesome Bakes ARE the new kids on the block. I spoke to Anna at the show & she said it was one of her first days of trading. The cakes she makes are all gluten free & all dairy free, plus…. they taste insanely good. It is great to find new, small brands that boast anything but small flavours. Epic epic epic!

16) Zero Gluten Baker

I discovered the Zero Gluten Baker at The Allergy & Free From Show North in Liverpool 2014. It was their launch event. I now have my own Zero Gluten Baker & I have to say it is definitely THE BEST bread maker for making gluten free bread… & cakes! I have made a few videos all about it, click here for one of them!

So…

The Allergy & Free From Show 2015 was an amazing reminder that there are so many different brands out there. So many brands that offer us so much! I am finding it harder and harder to think of things I can no longer eat… because there so many good quality alternatives now.

I have been going to The Allergy and Free From Show for quite a few years now & every year it seems to be improving. More choice, really informative talks & so many inspirational people. I am really excited for the next one now, I hope you can make it too! Please click here to find all details for future shows.

Oh, & my top tips for future Allergy & Free From Show visits?

• Don’t bring too much with you, you need free hands!
• Use the cloak room if you do have coats or any luggage, so worth it!
• Bring bags with you, you might come away with lots of goodies!
• Bring some water, it gets really warm inside & it’s nice to just have some to hand.
• Chat to as many people & brands as possible. Everyone is lovely & you’ll find out information first about new products from the people who create it!
• Take some time out to listen to a few talks, I am a massive fan of the talks run by The IBS Network.
• Remember to bring cash, most stands only work in cash & it makes life much easier.
• Enjoy yourself & make the most of it 🙂

Let me know if you have any gluten free recommendations that you think I should check out. I’m always on the hunt. Just leave a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks so much for reading, oh & if you fancy watching rather than reading head over to my YouTube channel… http://youtube.com/user/glutenfreecuppatea & subscribe to keep up to date 🙂

Becky xxx

There are always plenty of new, delicious Free From discoveries if you search hard enough. Here are 10 different brand’s products I want to share with you that I have found in 2015. (Specifically from The Allergy & Free From Show 2015!) Enjoy this Gluten Free Haul Video!

1) Cocoa Libre (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)

• Milk Chocolate Honeycomb Slab
• Gift Set of: Dark Chocolate with Raspberries, Milk Chocolate with Honeycomb and Dark Chocolate Orange with Crystallised Ginger
• Mint Chocolate Owls

Cocoa Libre is a brand I have enjoyed for the past few months A LOT! I featured them in a video back in May 2015 all about some of my favourite products.. Click here to watch it! They are an amazing brand with so much delicious choice.

2) Violife (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)

• Dairy Free Parmesan Cheese

If you have been deprived of Parmesan Cheese due to not being able to eat dairy products then Violife’s Parmesan is definitely one to try. Click here for my full review of the Violife Dairy Free Parmesan Cheese.

3) Yau’s (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)

• Szechuan Sauce

It is always tricky finding Chinese style sauces that are not only gluten free, but also free of any trace of onions. This Szechuan Sauce ticked all the boxes. We gave it a try at the show & it tasted really authentic. It had the perfect level of heat for us to really enjoy. I’m sure we will be using this a lot more soon!

4) Clives Pies (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)

• Gluten Free Almond Bliss
• Gluten Free Choco Mocha
• Gluten Free Coconut Dream
• Gluten Free Lemon Lust

I had no idea that Clive’s Pies did anything beyond Pies until the other day. I was pleasantly surprised to find these delicious little treats! Of course, their pies are amazing too, so make sure you give them a try when you can!

5) Bfree (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)

• Quinoa and Chia Seed Wraps with Teff and Flax Seeds
• Stone Baked Pitta Breads

I have always enjoyed Bfree products. From their multi-seed wraps to their rolls & bagels. I was extremely excited to find a new flavour of wrap & pitta breads. Exciting times! (Click here for a past review of Bfree)

6) Sensitive Souls (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)

• Mega Millionaire Shortbread

I would of grabbed everything from the Sensitive Souls stand if I could. These Millionaire Shortbreads are gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soya free, nut free. I also tried the Rocky Road which was insanely good! Basically…. tasty products, lovely people. 

7) Romeos Gluten Free Bakery

• Sourdough Loaf
• Seeded Loaf
• Brown Loaf

I’ve been wanting to visit Romeo’s Gluten Free Bakery for so, so long. I still haven’t had the chance sadly! BUT I grabbed 3 loaves at The Allergy & Free From Show to bring home. I have been enjoying the Gluten Free Sourdough the last few days for lunch, it is amazing. 

8) B-Tempted: Luxury Gluten Free (Gluten Free)

• Raspberry, White Chocolate & Pistachio Miniature Friands

If I could I would have bought so much from B-Tempted. These little cakes had so much flavour in them. I loved these as they seemed the perfect size if I just need a little sweet treat, but don’t want a huge cake. Raspberry & white chocolate is a match made in heaven.. & any cake that features pistachio will always be my friend!

9) Venice Bakery UK (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)

• Medium Pizza Bases

You probably know the eternal love I have for Venice Bakery UK’s Gluten Free pizza bases. I have been going on about them for years. Click here for a review. The medium bases that come in a 3 pack are the perfect size for dinner. I’d highly recommend them if you want to make the best pizza around at home!

10) Ms Cupcake

• Gluten Free Blueberry & Lemon Muffin

I’ve been a massive fan of Ms Cupcake for a very long time. I visited her shop in Brixton a few years ago & never looked back. Her cook book is amazing. Her products even more so. & best of all, she is super lovely! The Blueberry & Lemon muffin I bought was so delicious, it disappeared before a photo could be taken, but trust me, it was amazing!

So there you have my Gluten Free Haul! 

I had a great time at The Allergy & Free From Show as always. There is always so much to see, so many people to speak to & so much gluten free food to try. I am really pleased with my gluten free haul; trying out new products is always exciting! There are quite a few brands I really wanted to buy products from whilst I was there but… 1) I didn’t have enough hands & 2) it was so so hot I didn’t want to buy frozen or chilled items (chocolate was tricky enough to keep from melting!!).

It would be great if you could post your gluten free haul from The Allergy & Free From Show too… OR… maybe your latest gluten free haul from the supermarket – it is always interesting to see what people by! You can do so by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

If you enjoyed my video, please check out some more of my Gluten Free Videos by Clicking HERE! If you subscribe… you’ll never miss a video. (Highly recommended!!) 

Thanks for watching & reading!

Becky xxx

The Allergy & Free From Show in London is always my favourite event I attend every year. 2015 was no different… the event was organised beautifully & was stocked full of amazing free from products as well as some very inspirational people. Here is my video tour of the day!

As you can see, I had an amazing time & I can’t wait until the next Allergy & Free From Show in Liverpool (November 2015). I hope everyone who went had a great time too & picked up lots of goodies. It is not only a place to pick up lots of great gluten free (& other free from) products; it is also a place where you can feel at home… a place where for once you don’t feel like you’re the only one!

If you didn’t get the chance to be there this time round, I would highly recommend planning to go to the next one… even if it is quite a trek from where you are based! Plan in advance & you will have a wonderful experience! There is nothing quite like it.

Let me know what your top finds & best bits were at The Allergy & Free From Show 2015. Is there any brand in particular that you feel needs a shout out? It would be great to hear what you thought & share the love. Please feel free to leave a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

I will be putting up a couple more posts from my time at The Allergy & Free From Show so please take a read of them when they go up too!

Click here to check out my GLUTEN FREE HAUL VLOG!

If you enjoyed my video, please check out some more of my Gluten Free Videos by Clicking HERE! If you subscribe… you’ll never miss a video. (Highly recommended!!) 

Thanks for watching & reading!

Becky xxx

Dairy Free Parmesan Cheese is a real thing, thanks to Violife. I seriously love the guys at Violife for providing amazing dairy free alternatives. Just because if you can’t eat dairy, it shouldn’t mean you miss out on the delicious taste of cheesiness! 

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As you may have seen from a recent post, I mentioned my excitement at one of my favourite dairy free cheese brands, Violife, creating a dairy free parmesan cheese. For Mark, who is lactose intolerant, this is great news… he hasn’t been able to enjoy some parmesan grated on his pasta in a very, very long time. In many dishes where we once would have used parmesan, we tend to use another dairy free cheese alternative. Violife do a range of different types of cheese, from cheddar to mozzarella style which are super delicious, but they just aren’t parmesan, are they?!

The vast amount of dishes which could potentially be improved for Mark now, blew my mind. I was so excited to try the dairy free parmesan out. It comes in attractive, stylish packaging, but, as with all Violife, (you must agree..!!) it is a nightmare to easily open! However, if that is my only issue then I think this dairy free parmesan must be doing alright!

Upon opening Violife’s dairy free parmesan, the strong cheesy smell was immediately evident. I tried a slice… It tasted really strong and even had a slight crumbly texture like that of the best cheeses! I love a strong cheese & parmesan is on another level for me. When cooked it tastes amazing too, just as you would expect. I really could rave about this dairy free parmesan all day. 

 So far I have used my Violife dairy free parmesan in a number of recipes & meals that I thought I would just mention:

• Making a Gluten Free & Dairy Free Pesto to make a Pesto Tuna Pasta dish. 
• I made a Gluten Free & Dairy Free Fish Pie last week and made a Parmesan Mash to go on top.
• Mark made us Gluten & Dairy Free Turkey Burgers & stuffed them with dairy free parmesan.

So, all in all, I guess I just love my Dairy Free Parmesan from Violife. It melts amazingly when cooked into things & has a lovely crisp texture when grated and grilled. I think you will get the best out of Violife’s dairy free parmesan if you grate it. Over a Caesar Salad… it would be perfection! I would highly recommend trying it out if you have been missing some parmesan in your life. I have yet to find a dairy free parmesan that is quite as good as Violife. & if you haven’t already, make sure you try out all their other flavours/styles of cheese. There are some real gems in there!

Where can I get it?

Currently in the UK, Violife’s dairy free parmesan is available is selected health & food shops. You can find out your nearest stockist by contacting The Health Food Store (www.thehealthstore.co.uk) Let me know if you get the chance to try it & what your thoughts are. Have you any recipes you would suggest trying a dairy free parmesan with? Leave a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

So, you can’t eat gluten. But what is gluten? I often refer to it as the devil, but now thinking about it I don’t think that is wholly, scientifically true. I found this video & thought it was amusing. So I thought I would share it:

So… what is Gluten?!

Many of us have problems consuming gluten. It might be due to autoimmune diseases such as Coeliac Disease or due to a gluten intolerance. But… what is gluten?
It came to my attention that I don’t actually know exactly what gluten is… I think I am slightly clearer on it’s definition than those in the above video… but I’m still not fully clear.

So according to LiveScience… Gluten is:

“Gluten refers to the proteins found in wheat endosperm (a type of tissue produced in seeds that’s ground to make flour). Gluten both nourishes plant embryos during germination and later affects the elasticity of dough, which in turn affects the chewiness of baked wheat products.

Gluten is actually composed of two different proteins: gliadin (a prolamin protein) and glutenin (a glutelin protein).

Though “true gluten” is sometimes defined as being specific to wheat, gluten is often said to be part of other cereal grains — including rye, barley and various crossbreeds — because these grains also contain protein composites made from prolamins and glutelins.”

That’s all folks…

Now that we all know what gluten actually is… we can continue not to eat it 🙂 Have you anymore gluten related questions?! Let me know in the comments below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading & learning with me…

Becky xxx

For me, living a gluten free life due to a gluten intolerance has meant I have had to make some changes. I thought I would start to share with you a few days in my life… Gluten Free Style!

So I guess the message behind this first little look into my Gluten Free Life, is to be prepared! Being prepared for every eventuality will always put your mind at rest & allow you to enjoy yourself so much more when it comes to it.

Let me know if you liked having a look into my little Gluten Free Life. I would love to look into aspects of your Gluten Free Lives too. So comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter. OR even better, why not make your own video & share it!

Thanks for watching,

Becky xxx

Buying gluten free produce that’s, created in a purpose built gluten free kitchen, by a passionate coeliac is music to my ears. That is exactly what Mandy’s Gluten Free is. 

I love writing about my gluten free discoveries. I also love finding out other people’s gluten free discoveries on Facebook & Twitter. Facebook is exactly how I found out about Mandy’s Gluten Free & I’m so pleased I did!

Mandy is a Coeliac herself. She was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease after going through six long years of tests from doctors who couldn’t work out what was wrong with her. She was diagnosed age 38, and had been eating a normal diet until this time. I have spoken to a lot of people who have had similar stories to Mandy whereby they spent years undiagnosed. Make sure you check out the Coeliac UK website for details if you think you might have Coeliac Disease, it is very helpful.

It is great to see that Mandy chose to use her frustrations as a motivation to create gluten free foods for everyone to enjoy. Mandy was kind enough to send me a few of her products to try recently & I thought I would share some of Mandy’s Gluten Free offerings with you all!

1) Apple & Blackberry Pie

This pie was the first one to catch my eye. I love making my own fruit pies & crumbles, but I also love just eating them. Mark & I had to try this pie out immediately! We bought some dairy free custard & one night after dinner, shared it whilst watching an episode of Game of Thrones! The pie was lovely and full of filling, and it went beautifully with the custard.

2) Chicken Pie

We warmed this pie up and ate some of it with our lunch. There were huge chunks of juicy, succulent chicken buried within the delicious pastry crust. I really like it when a filling can be moist, yet the pastry still keeps its form and doesn’t go soggy. This was one of the best gluten free chicken pies I have had.

3) Steak Pie

Now, because Mark can’t really eat red meat I had completely forgotten how amazing a steak pie is. I haven’t had one in years! The meat in this pie was flavoursome beyond belief, & again, the pastry held it’s shape really well. I find with all of Mandy’s gluten free pies that the pastry is actually quite light. For a steak pie this is great, because otherwise you can feel rather lethargic & heavy after eating it. It only needed about 30 minutes in the oven and came out smelling & tasting amazing. With a dollop of mash & some gravy, this is the perfect dinner any day of the week.

4) Mediterranean Vegetable Pie

A Mediterranean Veg Pie sounds rather tasty to me. Essentially, ratatouille surrounded by pastry, yes please! Unfortunately this isn’t the pie for me, as a lot of veg disrupt my stomach. That didn’t mean Mark couldn’t give it a try however! The pie smelt amazing as it emerged from the oven. The filling oozed tomato, peppers, aubergine & courgette. To be honest I think this is a great idea for a pie. So often ratatouille is a side dish, but this puts a whole new spin on it, & makes it even more delicious.

5) Cheesy Leek & Potato Pie

This pie tasted and smelt as good as it sounded. Sadly my issue with onions (and leeks!) meant that I could only really destructively pick my way through the pie rather than eating it ‘pretty’. Nevertheless, I was obsessed with the flavours. I loved how strongly I could taste the rosemary on the potato & there was plenty of oozing cheese throughout. I would imagine with the amount of potato within this pie, it would be quite filling, it would be so worth it though… it is definitely a pie I would recommend.

6) Cheese Scone

Oh my, I love a good cheese scone. I haven’t got round to making my own in a while so this was a nice treat. However, it was a nice treat.. multiple times! This has to be the biggest cheese scone I have ever eaten! It is also one of the best I have ever eaten 🙂 The sign of a good scone to me is when you can eat it without any topping & it still tastes great. This scone was as cheesy as they come with a flakey, melt in the mouth texture. As a girl obsessed with cheese I opted for eating this with butter & MORE cheese, crazy I know. It rocked my world.

7) Fruit Scone

Not only does Mandy make beastly gluten free cheese scones, she also makes giant gluten free fruit scones, which will definitely be right up your street if you miss a good scone, clotted cream & jam! If you are  looking to have a gluten free afternoon tea for yourself & few gluten free friends then these scones would be a perfect addition. They definitely taste as good as regular scones.

So…

There you have it, that was a few of the thing that Mandy’s Gluten Free has to offer. It is really nice to support smaller businesses like Mandy’s, especially when her products taste so damn good! Whilst I know shipping costs are always a massive problem for so many of you, I think it has to be appreciated that smaller businesses are not trying to rip you off. They are selling fresh & frozen homemade goods that need to be treated with care. To be honest, I would suggest putting in a rather large order & the postage definitely wouldn’t seem so bad then! All the gluten free pies & scones can be put in the freezer so you don’t need to eat them immediately anyway. & I promise you, it will be worth every penny.

You can buy Mandy’s Gluten Free online by clicking here.

Let me know what your favourite smaller gluten free businesses are. Have you tried Mandy’s Gluten Free before? You can leave a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

Sweet Chilli Sauce is a welcome addition to so many dishes these days. Rennoldson’s have created Sweet Chilli Sauces for even more occasions by creating 3 signature flavours that are even more versatile than your standard sweet chilli sauce. & what I personally love is that they are natural.

I love sweet chilli sauce. It started as something that I once only ate with prawn crackers, but now I use it much more regularly. However, most sweet chilli sauces you find in the supermarkets are full of nasties & unnatural things that you really shouldn’t be putting inside your body. So it has been a saviour for me to find Rennoldson’s, a company that produces sweet chilli sauces with nothing artificial; they call it… Flavours from Nature!

So what are their sweet chilli sauce flavours from nature?

• Fiery Pineapple, Ginger & All Spice
• Rich Pomegranate Lime & Mint
• Apple, Green Pepper & Bay

Now, there is no shame in initially thinking: “They sound crazy… what the hell would they taste like?!” Because I thought exactly that! I am the least fussy eater you will meet (despite what my food intolerances make out!!), & I was super excited to give them all a try!

Rennoldson’s make their 3 flavours of sweet chilli sauce from:
“whole fruits and vegetables, that are hand juiced in a green oak press to ensure absolute clarity of flavour. A carefully selected secondary flavour is accompanied by a herb or spice to create the perfect balance for each sauce.”
Great news, & better still every sweet chilli sauce that Rennoldson’s produces is both gluten free & dairy free.

Now for me personally, sweet chilli sauce is a condiment. Something I might drizzle over salmon or use as a dip. However, Rennoldson’s state on the bottle that their sauces would be perfect as a base for a marinade or as a cooking ingredient. So really the possibilities are endless!

I’ve decided to do what I know and stick to using it as a condiment! Unfortunately, for me, I am one of those folk that really struggles to digest anything sugary, whether that be a massive cream cake or some fresh fruit. So I tend to steer clear of marinading meat in this way, even if the sugars are good & natural.

I’m currently visiting my parents so I thought I would do a taste test with them, so they could let me know which sweet chilli sauce they liked best & what they thought of them. I lined them up alongside a few tasty ‘dippers’… cheese & prawns being the favourite dippers! Here are the verdicts: 

Fiery Pineapple, Ginger & All Spice: This was definitely the favourite. We all decided we prefered this to regular sweet chilli sauce. It’s like a sweet & sour sauce with more of a kick to it. It smells amazing too. We enjoyed it so much that the following day we drizzled it over some fried rice at dinner. I would definitely recommend this flavour the most. This tropical taste would go with so many different dishes & snacks.

Rich Pomegranate, Lime & Mint: I initially found the smell of this sauce a little eccentric. I couldn’t tell if I liked it or not. But upon tasting it I changed my mind. The mint flavour really comes through a great deal & makes a chilli mojito party occur in your mouth – a really pleasurable experience! Whilst I wouldn’t pair it with my Chinese fried rice dish, I would have it some Mexican or Spanish flavours. I think it would work a treat!

Apple, Green Pepper & Bay: The spiciest of the sweet chilli sauce is definitely this one! It smells spicy & it definitely is. The green pepper taste comes through a lot & the spiciness somewhat overpowers the sharp granny smith apple flavour. Nevertheless, the combination of apple, green pepper & bay really works in this sweet chilli sauce. My Dad, who is a fan of spicier foods really enjoyed this one & said he would use it with a range of different dishes. Like the other two, it is very versatile but additionally, it’s hot hot hot!!!

Overall all 3 sweet chilli sauce went down rather well.They are refreshing in both flavour & idea. I love the concept & I love the fact they are completely natural. I also love the packaging, it works so well with the vibrant colours of the sweet chilli sauces. These sauces are truly something amazingly different on the palate. I really love them… & will definitely be enjoying all 3 sauces again!

Where can I get Rennoldson’s Sweet Chilli Sauce from?

Rennoldson’s have their own online shop which makes it super easy to grab a bottle wherever, whenever! You can also buy them locally to where they are based in the South West (Bristol/Bath area). Keep your eyes peeled for more locations across the UK!

Are you a sweet chilli sauce fan? Do you like the sound of these sweet chilli sauce twists from Rennoldson’s? What do you eat with your sweet chilli sauce? Let me know by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

 

Silly Yak is amazing right? Purely because of the name! Silly-Yak… Coeliac, get it?! They also make Gluten Free Pastry which I recently tried out after finally finding it in Tesco!

I asked a whole bunch of people on Facebook, what they miss in terms of pastry based foods & it reminded me of so many things that I miss! (You forget after a while!) Something I used to eat a lot of… Egg Custard Tarts. So I decided to use my Silly Yak Gluten Free Pastry to create some Gluten Free Egg Custard Tarts! If you want my Gluten Free Egg Custard Recipe using Silly Yak gluten free pastry then click here 🙂

Now I am one of the worst people for making pastry, however much I follow a recipe, it never turns out quite right. I really struggle to roll pastry out without it sticking, however much flour I use! So for me, even using ready to roll gluten free pastry posed a mission!

With my rolling pin at the ready and a floured surface I got to work rolling out my gluten free pastry. I think my worries that it would potentially stick made to more careful, and it didn’t stick at all. It rolled really nicely like regular pastry, I definitely wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. I used a pastry cutter and cut out my circles to slot into the pastry tin. The pastry was very easy to manage.
I then made my egg custard filling, grated some nutmeg on top & put them in the oven at 190C for around 25-30 minutes. In my rush I completely forgot to glaze my pastry with a little egg (to make it golden!) But they still turned out really well!

Of course you might be able to tell that I go for the ‘rustic’, ‘homemade’ look with how I shape my pastry!! After leaving them to cool. Mum, Dad & myself sat down in the sunshine to give them a try! The pastry was absolutely delicious.
My mum said the pastry was the best she has had for an egg custard tart. Often shop bought egg custards & even pastry ingredients within an egg custard tart recipe, are very sweet. This pastry can be used for both savoury and sweet dishes & thus doesn’t have that unnecessary sweetness. I mean, the custard filling is sweet enough!

The pastry was definitely the perfect accompaniment to the custard filling. It keeps well and doesn’t seem to harden or become less pastry like after a couple of days. (I’ve had this problem with other pastries before!) It is flakey & crisp yet moist all at the same time. There were no soggy bottoms to be seen (Phew!). I am just so super thankful that Silly Yak have created a gluten free pastry… it really will solve a lot of pastry problems!

I bought another pack as well which I will definitely be using in the coming days to make something else… maybe something savoury this time. A simple sausage roll wouldn’t go a miss. & I have NEVER tried a cornish pasty! Crazy, I know!

Just like many of you, I have had a little trouble getting hold of Silly Yak gluten free pastry…. even though it is stocked in a huge amount of Tesco stores across the UK. I was lucky enough to find it after many attempts… so keep on looking. & I guess… keep on buying it & trying it… it’s the only way for companies like Silly Yak to keep going. Plus, this gluten free pastry is only £1.75. For a gluten free product I would definitely say this is an absolute bargain! I look forward to seeing what Silly Yak come up with next, I’m sure they won’t stop at just gluten free pastry. I guess keep your eyes peeled!

Have you had a chance to try out Silly Yak’s gluten free pastry yet? What did you think? Let me know what you made with it… or what you would like to make with it once you get your hands on it! You can do this by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

So I said I would take you on my Gluten Free Bread Maker Journey with me… & that is exactly what I thought I would do today! Today I make, Gluten Free Bread Rolls.. Triple Seeded Bread Rolls using my Zero Gluten Baker!

All 6 of these delicious gluten free bread rolls disappeared very quickly. They had a perfect crusty outside, & the inside was beautifully soft. I can’t really believe I made them! Mark & I enjoyed them with a number of different fillings. A highlight was having one filled with chicken pesto. However, another highlight was eating one warm simply with a little butter! The bread is great, even on it’s own!

So my first attempt at making gluten free bread in the Zero Gluten Baker has definitely been a huge success! Mark has really been loving freshly baked gluten free bread rolls for lunch, as have I. Mark doesn’t even eat gluten free bread, but now I’m baking my own, he is loving it!

I will definitely be using my bread maker even more as time goes on. I want to try it out with sweet and savoury breads. I am really excited to make my own pizza dough too… then I can have my pizza whatever thickness I like! Maybe even a cheeky dairy free cheese stuffed crust?!

DISCOUNT CODE: Cuppatea25 If you fancy giving one of these beautiful Zero Gluten Bakers a go, I have good news…. I will have a discount code that will save each and every one of you £25 It’s: Cuppatea25

Let me know if there are any different types of gluten free bread you would like me to try out. What is your favourite type of bread? Are there any types of bread you struggle to find gluten free, but wish you could? Leave a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter.

Oh & if you enjoyed the video please head over to http://youtube.com/user/glutenfreecuppatea for plenty more gluten free videos! Make sure you subscribe too 🙂

Thanks for watching & reading,

Becky xxx

 

Chiquito has always done great food, but what is even better about Chiquito is that they have a Gluten Free Menu! Plenty of restaurants offer gluten free options but I’ve had too many experiences of being given a huge unappetising, sticky, laminated allergy folder… a gluten free menu is much more pleasing on the eye!

Chiquito provides a thoroughly epic gluten free menu. (Click the Menu above to enlarge) I can safely say I have enjoyed many items on it, and have no complaints. There is so much choice compared to a lot of other chain restaurants. 

Starters: The Peri Peri Prawns are delicious & who isn’t a fan of Pulled Pork & Cheese Loaded Potato Skins?! If you’re not… Nachos or Halloumi Skewers might tickle your taste buds?!

Mains: Both Fajitas & Tacos can be indulged in by the Gluten Free eater here. No  ‘lettuce wraps’ are being offered instead of what you really want. I know a lot of folk seem to have a thing for using lettuce as a wrap, but personally, you are pointlessly cheating yourself of what you really want. You will never find me eating a lettuce wrap!! There are so many different fillings for your fajitas too, from pulled pork to BBQ chicken.

I also love all the fish & sizzling dishes they do gluten free, they are delicious. Oh, & best of all, all their fries are gluten free, even the sweet potato fries.

Desserts: A dessert beyond sorbet is actually an option here! (Although you can have sorbet if you fancy it!) The hot chocolate & brownie makes an appearance as does my favourite… Apple & Blueberry Crumble with Ice Cream. Yes Please!

I have always found that staff in Chiquito have been extremely helpful and friendly. They never mind switching side dishes on the menu for you, & best of all they are well educated with a smile!
Chiquitos are dotted around all over the place, especially near out of town cinema complexes, so I’m sure there is one close by to you! It has the perfect menu, where there really is something for everyone… oh & don’t forget the cocktails!!

Have you been to Chiquito? How did you find the Gluten Free Menu? Are there other chain restaurants that offer gluten free menus that you prefer? Let me know by leaving a comment below… or on Facebook/Twitter.

Thanks for reading,

Becky xxx

 

The Allergy & Free From Show 2015 is happening across the weekend of July 3rd – July 5th. It is a chance to find new Free From brands & pick up plenty of freebies! & best of all I have FREE TICKETS TO GIVEAWAY! CLICK HERE!

The Allergy & Free From Show 2015 showcases hundreds of Free From Brands all there to make a difference to your lives & provide you with the very best Free From food. Whether you are Gluten Free, Wheat Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Soya Free, Nut Free or anything else… there is really something for everyone.

Click here for FREE TICKETS, A UDI’S TIGER BREAD DISCOUNT & FREE TICKETS FOR ALL YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY!

The Allergy & Free From Show is an event I would never ever miss. I love attending & meeting all the people that make it possible for me & so many other people I know, have a happy, healthier life. Whilst the big brands such as Tesco, Sainsburys, Schär & Udi’s (who sponsor the show) are all present; there are even more unique smaller brands that you might have never heard of! I GUARANTEE, you will come away with your mind blown at what really is out there for you, if you have to live a Free From lifestyle. I’ve been going for years and still find new exciting brands every year, hence I am so excited for the show!!

There are also plenty of talks taking place at the show from the very best individuals in the business. The Schär Learning Centre hosts talks throughout the day which are exceptional. I would highly recommend checking out Dr Nick Read’s talk named: ‘IBS: Whats it all about and what to do about it?’ If you suffer from IBS like me, it will definitely be of great interest. You also have the chance throughout the Allergy & Free From Show 2015 to speak to specialists who might be able to help & give advice to you about any digestive issues you might suffer with. These people are specialists in the industry… it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to speak to such folk… for free!

Sainsbury’s also run a live cooking area where you can sit and watch top chefs prepare Free From foods & create delicious recipes. I would highly recommend resting your legs part way through the Allergy & Free From Show, and giving this a watch. It is well worth it & really interesting.

 The Allergy & Free From Show 2015 is co-hosted alongside the Just V Show 2015 & the Love Natural Love Organic Show 2015. This is also great as many of the different brands attending for these shows also offer a lot in terms of Free From. For instance, the Just V Show is full of Vegan brands which are in tern both Dairy Free & Egg Free. (Plenty of Dairy Free Cheese to try… they rock!!)

Anyway as I said, it is one of my favourite events of the entire year and I really would recommend you attending. It is well worth registering for a free ticket! I mean, you might suddenly decide to go last minute, so register for a ticket today by clicking this link…. it is completely free & you will really find so many freebies & discounts within the show… I guarantee you will come away wealthier than before you went!! (in food & knowledge!)

Another bonus of signing up is that because Udi’s are Sponsoring the Allergy & Free From Show 2015, when you sign up for your free ticket… you also will receive a voucher immediately for money off their delicious Gluten Free, Dairy Free Tiger Bread Loaf, which you can use in supermarkets. (I’ve already used mine!)

Have you ever been to the Allergy Show before? Are you going this year? What are you looking forward to? Please let me know by leaving a comment below, or on Facebook/Twitter. & if you have any questions regarding the Allergy & Free From Show 2015, please let me know.

Thanks for reading & see you there?!

Becky xxx

Click here for FREE TICKETS & A UDI’S TIGER BREAD DISCOUNT!

• Click here for a review of The Allergy & Free From Show 2014 North

• Click here for a review of The Allergy & Free From Show 2014 London

• Click here for a review of The Allergy & Free From Show 2013 London