Mrs Crimble's Cheese Bites

I just made a trip to our big Sainsburys to look at the new items in their Free-From range - more on that later.


While I was there I found these Mrs Crimble's Cheese Bites. They are heaven! Made with Edam Cheese but baked so they aren't ridiculously unhealthy, they are hollow cheesy pillows.

Absolutely delicious!

Gluten Cravings

Accidently consuming gluten as a coeliac is not a pleasant experience. However, once the gastro symptoms and the horrible 'hungover' feeling have gone, for me one of the most distressing symptoms is craving foods that contain gluten. This symptom seems to linger after the episode has almost been forgotten.

I ate a meal at a chinese restaurant at the weekend and was probably less careful than I should have been. Since then I have been craving pies and pizza and all the things I can't have.

To counteract these cravings I made gluten free pizza and defrosted a gluten free coffee cake I had in the freezer.

Still, sometimes gluten free alternatives don't quite hit the spot.

I would never deliberately consume gluten so why does my body crave something that makes it so so ill?

That's a question I wish I knew the answer to.

Does anyone else experience gluten cravings?
What do you do to counteract them?

Leave your ideas in the comments section :)

Choc Dip Replacement

As a child I *loved* KP Choc Dips. Remember them? Those little pots with biscuit sticks and some chocolate spread to dip them in.



Well I was at a loose end in Cardiff this morning and decided to have a look at the 'Free From' sections in a few local supermarkets. I love seeing the range of products different stores stock, especially as their gluten free ranges vary so much from area to area.

So I wandered into Asda at Cardiff Gate. To my surprise I found a little Tru Free tub with chocolate spread and breadsticks. The sticks are not as sweet as I remember the Choc Dip version being but the slight savoury-ness combined with the sweet, hazelnut flavoured chocolate spread was a brilliant combination.

Quite expensive at 99p a pot but totally worth it!

Sometimes people do the nicest things :)

The reason for my silence over the past two weeks is jazz. Well the Tie-Dye Quartet to be precise, which is a jazz band I am a member of.

We are recording at Aeriel Studios in Carmarthen next week and have just had two weeks of intense rehearsals, and a day long photo shoot, back in Birmingham to prepare.

I am now once again in Cardiff with Ina and his lovely mum for the weekend before heading to Carmarthen to record.

We arrived this afternoon to find out Ina's mum had been to Sainsburys and bought a big selection of gluten free goodies for me to take to Carmarthen with me in case I couldn't get hold of them there.

It was just so lovely that she'd thought of me and taken the time to read lots of packets to find out what I could eat.

Put a big smile on my face :)

Out and About in Cardiff

I'm in Cardiff at the moment staying with Ina and his mum.

My current bank balance (or lack of it!) means I haven't been eating out much. However I found a nice big Marks and Spencer Food Hall on the outskirts, near their house where I was able to purchase my favourite Coconut and Lemon Macaroons! I also bought some of their Mango and Passion Fruit desserts which are a bit like Creme Caramel but fruity instead of the caramel flavours, and a Masala Chicken Salad, which I've got to say I wasn't too keen on, despite loving Indian food, but it was gluten free.

I also found a M&S version of Wotsits, which are gluten free. For some reason I can't seem to eat normal Wotsits, despite them being classed as "suitable for coeliacs". I know a few others who have said the same. But I seem to have been fine after the M&S ones so that's another thing to add to my M&S shopping list. I love that shop! (and most other shops! I just like shopping :P)

While looking for places that sold gluten free food in Cardiff I came across a place called "Canteen" on Clifton Street in Cardiff which appears to cater for us GF-ers. The review I found seems to suggest they sometimes have GF Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Not going to have chance to visit it during my brief stay here. Anyone been and had any experience of eating GF there? Let me know.

Cheat's Paella

This is a great little recipe for those days when you want a reasonably healthy meal in a short amount of time. It might even work cold for lunch if you made it the night before.

Cheat's Paella

1 packet of dried rice
cold water
butter
1 tin of oily fish
Vegetables

1. Cook the rice in the water and butter according to the instructions on the packet
2. Add vegetables to the cooking rice
3. Stir in the fish
   

I used Asda's own paella quick cook rice and added asparagus and baby sweetcorn at the start of cooking. I then added mackerel fillets in tomato sauce towards the end of cooking.

Within 10 minutes I had a tasty, satisfying meal!

My Tummy Hurts!

I had a nasty gluten attack last Tuesday. It's now Monday and my tummy still hurts! :(

I have stomach pains and feel sick, especially when I eat food.

Not a happy bunny :(