These biscuit breaks from Nairn's are blooming gorgeous. Now, you know what I have been like with my new little fetish on coconut just lately well I thought I would give these little beauties a go.
Nairn's have a few gluten free biscuits in their range and in nice flavours. The biscuits are wrapped in little handy packs of three which I like because I can just pop one in my handbag and they are there for an emergency snack. All snacks are an emergency to me, if I need to snack it has to happen straight away and these certainly help in that emergency situation. I also like that there are just three biscuits in a pack, some of these packs have too many in and you either force yourself to eat all of them ( I know hell eh?) or you decide to save some and are left with the fact that the packet usually doesn't re seal. Random biscuits floating around in a handbag is not acceptable especially if you forget and find them in a month covered in handbag fluff.....not good. There will never be a totally healthy biscuit but these do contain 35% less sugar, contain gluten free wholegrain oats which are high in fibre and are only 64 calories per biscuit so not bad for a snack and a change from fruit. It does say they are chunky but I think that is a bit misleading, they are a little bit thicker than other biscuits in their selection but if you are searching for serious chunkiness then you may be disappointed. They taste lovely and I think are the nicest ones in the Nairn's range that I have had the pleasure of eating. I do like that added coconut taste and a chocolate chip now and again. You can get a fruity version if that is your thing, they are available in oats, blueberries and raspberry flavour too. So give them a go if you haven't already and tell me what you think. Thank you so much for reading today, I will be back tomorrow for Autism Support Saturday but for now enjoy your biscuits and take care.
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I feel as though I've been dieting forever, well I've been with Slimming World for a few years now and I just can't get with it. I lost two stone and then got stuck really and never got back into it. So I thought, do you know what? I'm just going to give it a rest.
I'm hoping that with all the information and knowledge I've picked up I will at least be able to maintain the loss I achieved but I'm just fed up with it. Life has changed a bit now and I haven't got time to list how many items of food I've been eating all day, and making sure I stick to those syns. Some days at the moment I'm too busy to even think about food but I do drink my tea, thank goodness. If I'm busy then thats good, I'm not just snacking because of boredom or because the food is around. I'm going to still make sure I have some healthy meals and fill up on syn free stuff, I think it's been drilled into so much the last few years I automatically follow the diet anyway. The other thing is though I'll save the money, it is quite pricey every few months to pay the subscription online so I think I will put that money to use elsewhere for now. I'll probably be moaning in a few weeks that I'm fat again and I need to be thin for summer. We'll see, but for now I feel a bit relieved and a bit free from it all. Of course I still need to stick to my gluten free diet as that is necessary but at least I will be able to have my porridge and a some bread in the same day (slimming worlders will get that). You can only have one or the other when having the healthy extra options you see. I'm not knocking the diet in anyway as it has been brilliant and a good healthy way to eat but I need a break and then maybe later I can pick it up again and start fresh. I do truly believe that to follow a diet you have to have your heart and mind set on it otherwise there is no motivation. You have to have a meaning and reason to do it and I must be just happy in my skin at the moment. So here's to being diet free for a while.....I'll keep you posted on how it goes. for now though you all take care and I will be back tomorrow with Autism Support Saturday......thanks for reading today. Yes that is all that is left folks, I had to take a quick snap of it before it completely disappeared. This yummy creation was dropped off to me this week by my friend and it was just what I needed.
It is a lovely jam and coconut sponge, gluten free too!! I know she mentioned that the recipe came from a school dinner type theme, remember those? Instead of just eating it as it is all alone I did decide to pair it up with a bit of custard just like old times (not the pink stuff as everyone remembers). Oh it was heaven......it works well with a bit of squirty cream too if you don't fancy the custard. What a delight and you do need to try this so I did a bit of research and found a Jam and Coconut School Dinner Sponge recipe from Becky Excell who is a gluten free blogger, take a look at her blog at www.glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk but here is the link to this recipe glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk/2019/01/20/gluten-free-jam-coconut-school-dinner-sponge-cake-recipe/ Have fun trying the recipe and most of all have the best fun eating it as it really is a delicious combination. I was never that keen on coconut at all but now I seem to really like it - oh what a shame, may have to make this cake myself. Thanks Alison for brightening my day, it was a truly lovely treat. Thank you for reading today, I will be here again tomorrow for Autism Support Saturday but for now..... eat cake and take care. Yes it was my birthday yesterday and another year older, I'm not sure how long I can still draw out the 'twenty one again' tag but hey you're only as old as you feel. Talking about twenty one, that's when you get the key to the door isn't it? Well I did have that with the key to my new florist shop so I chose to share my birthday with the opening of my new flower pad.
It was a bit of a wash out really, not for the shop but the weather was terrible and being situated on a park it didn't bring out many of the people walking about. I can't say I blame them either, there were some dedicated runners and walkers that meant business early on but I think even they decided to head for shelter. It was one of those days when you do look out and think 'naa not today thank you'. It usually snows pretty heavily on my birthday so I could have been digging my way through a snowdrift to open up the shop, I should be thankful for small mercies. I was thankful as I had so many well wishes and support but there is always that one friend who just knows what you need on your birthday.....a bit of chocolate. These 'Free From' treats from Tesco came along and just made my day. The mini chocolate chip muffins are gorgeous, very light and fluffy. In fact I bought some non gluten free ones for my boys the other day and have been pining over them so having my own 'free from' ones was such a welcome. The little Belgian chocolate wafer bar is a biscuit very similar to a Kit Kat. I love a Kit Kat and these are a very nice alternative, in fact a little nicer because they are wrapped in the Belgian chocolate.....Yummy. Together with a bottle of Bucks Fizz too I felt as if I had been completely spoilt and that also goes for the other pressies I received too. Thanks to everyone. I really need these treats though as last night I started with a cold so I thought stuff the diet I need to feel better and although the cold and flu tablets stop the snot running you can't beat a nice 'free from' muffin (well ok - two or three....eek, caught me out). Tesco have a great range of Free From items and all sorts of treats in biscuit and cake form, even celebration cakes too so do have a look (and taste). Although do try and buy before you taste otherwise you may get some strange looks from the Tesco staff if you just devour cakes straight from the shelf. I've never tried it but I can imagine it may not go down to well. Thank you for reading today, please do pop back tomorrow for Autism Support Saturday but for now.....you all take care now. What would we do without the good old potato? It is just a fabulous food, you can cook it in many different ways and it is so filling too. It makes you feel full for longer so no need to snack on that chocolate in between a meal after eating a spud or two.
They are gluten free and depending on what you put with them or cook them in they can be included on the vegan diet as well. I don't know about you but when I see a baked potato on a menu somewhere I feel safe, safe that I know I will be able to able a meal and stay gluten free. It's that 'happy dance' time isn't it? Even when a eatery says that they will swap the fries for a baked potato to make it ok to eat.......yes!!! So simple but sometimes us gluten free'ers could kiss you catering people (well maybe I am going a bit overboard now). I love potatoes.....I love them roasted with other vegetables and that will do me for a meal, I can even leave out the meat and just stick with a plate full of veg. I love a bit of mashed potato and I also make my own fries. Sweet potatoes are so tasty too, I roast those a lot and turn them into chips, just as a bit of an alternative. There are also different varieties to play around with like your King Edwards, Maris Piper, Baby Potatoes, Charlottes, Jersey Royals and Desiree. Maris Piper's and your King Edward's are a floury texture, a perfect all rounder - ideal for chips, roasties, baking and mash. Desiree also make lovely mash. Jersey Royals, Baby's and Charlottes are more waxy and perfect for boiling, steaming and used in a salad. So now you know, if you are ever stuck for a 'free from' meal, reach for a potato to have own their own or include them with salad's or a nice roast dinner. You just cannot go wrong. I went to an event the other day where there was a buffet, now buffet's can sometimes be nightmare but the host reeled off a list of what I could eat and when he said that the potatoes were gluten free, well that was it, that was enough to keep me happy. Small chopped up roasties with skin on, oh they were so nice.......I even brought leftovers home too, brilliant!! I don't like to waste potatoes, it hurts me inside......be good to the potatoes and they will be good to you. You never hear many people saying 'oh I don't like potatoes' either do you? See so versatile and everyone's favourite. I've now made myself so hungry.....potatoes for breakfast, oh yes - anytime of the day!!! Thank you so much for reading today, please do come back tomorrow for Autism Support Saturday but for now......stay warm and take care. That was a song wasn't it? A Love Supreme mmmm (thinking but actually googling) by........Will Downing. I remember now because it was a classic example of a missed heard lyric as instead of 'love supreme' we used to sing 'lots of cream'. Find it on You Tube, it's a oldie from 1988.
I like the play on words with this soup from Aldi though 'Soupreme' brilliant and it is a brilliant soup. Gluten free so I'm eating this to my hearts content and low on the old syns with Slimming World, it's a winner. I've actually bought the creamy Leek and Potato which is 10.5 syns for the whole 600ml but I have tasted the Carrot and Coriander which is only 3 syns for the same amount so you can't go wrong. Their soups also come in 400g cans too with similar reasonable syn values and they taste great as well. Some soups tend to be a bit wishy washy if they are low fat but this is like a proper wholesome homemade soup. I look a bit like I'm hoarding all of Aldi's stock of soup in my fridge as I also have the Tomato and Basil which I've had tonight with some gluten free toast......very nice on these cold winter nights. It's the ultimate winter food and really filling as well, I may have turned into a soup-a-holic. Give them a try and see what you think. I know a lot of them contain some milk so it wouldn't be an option for the dairy freer's amongst us but I find it is easy to make your own soup too so that may be a way of combating that and keeping it all gluten free as well. If you make your own it's like anything else you know exactly what's in it and there's no preservatives and hidden baddies. Oh I can feel a soup maker coming on although I do find a pan and a blender is just as easy to use. Let me know what you think anyway if you have tried these soups, likey or no likey as Paddy would say. Enjoy them and keep warm.....I will catch you for Autism Support Saturday tomorrow but for now........ Take care. I thought I would just share another gluten free snack while we are all still weaning ourselves down from the snackerthon at Christmas. It's hard to come down from all the food we consume over the holidays right down to a lettuce leaf for Weight Watchers, Slimming World or whatever diet you follow.
The fact is if you struggle you can have a little snack somewhere along the line as long as you don't go overboard. These little baked beauties are really tasty and quite nicely fill a little gap sometimes. I have purchased these from Aldi but they are very similar to Pop Chips which are sold in other supermarkets. They are gluten free and suitable for vegetarians, here we have the mixed vegetable snacks but they are also available in barbeque and sour cream and onion flavours too. If you are following Slimming World as I am then these will set you back 5.5 syns for 25g so not too bad. I don't eat them all the time but they are nice to have around if I get that savoury craving. It's funny because by eating vegetable crisps we always feel that they will be more healthy but then potatoes are blooming veggies as well and no crisps are healthy are they? If you're like me though I just need that salted snack fix though now and again and it's so nice to reach for something gluten free. I'm forever reading packets, if you hear a woop of delight in a supermarket then it's probably me getting excited because a product is gluten free. I feel like running around the supermarket sometimes shouting 'look it's gluten free, this is gluten free.....hallelujah - it's a miracle, join me in this celebration' but no everyone looks at me a bit funny. I love the 'free from' aisle in a shop, it's my special place to go where everything is alright to eat. I ponder at the cakes and puddings wishing that one day again I will eat them again but just settling for pasta and wafer thin crackers. It's a bit like the eighties gameshow Bullseye, 'oh look Sue from the Brew this is what you could be eating'. No speedboat or caravan for me just a consolation Bully to take home. If you were born late on then there must be an old episode on You Tube, it was a classic. You would get a contestant from Birmingham who didn't own a car but won a speedboat and thinking what the heck am I gonna do with that? They would still smile and say 'thanks Jim', Jim Bowen (gameshow host) - top bloke. Well that's me done for today so onto Autism Support Saturday tomorrow, come and join me for that but for now you all take care and keep warm, it's getting a bit chilly now. I've never really understood the whole gluten bread bread thing with Slimming World. Well I do get it but I suppose I don't agree with it is what I'm trying to say. I lost a good two stone a while back ignoring a few rules about the bread so I figure it doesn't really matter in the long run and I'm definitely not awake thinking about it. In fact I may try and drift off to sleep one night thinking about slices of bread jumping over Slimming World HQ.
Now I usually have the Genius Farmhouse Brown Bread because I really love it which is 36g per slice. I can have 2 slices of any brown or multiseeded bread at approx 60g as a Healthy Extra B. Slimming World has the Genius bread at one slice on a HEB which I just think is daft, have you actually seen the size of gluten free bread? I have to squint to see if it is actually on my plate. I can understand normal bread (shall we say) or maybe I should call it non gluten free bread being a HEB at one slice because its blooming massive, you get double the bread. In fact you could probably fit two slices of gluten free on a slice with the gluten in. I know it's all about the weight and tell me about it, that's the whole point of dieting isn't it? Weights of food, weight of the body but blimey there is not much weight in a slice of gluten free bread. For 12g's over I'm calling it two slices and taking the approximately 60g at 72g so arrest me. I might just cut the crusts off to see if that makes a difference but then Im left with bread the size of a postage stamp and frankly that just becomes a posh canapé, that my friends is a party snack to me. Get me, getting a bit assertive with my diet, I am having two slices of gluten free bread on a HEB like it or lump it, that felt good. I'm also sticking with butter, obviously I'll be good and syn that though with the extra HEA we get now and did think 'oh come on Slimming World give us a break'. I can't be doing with low fat spread, it's got lots of rubbish in it. Sugar is another thing too, I've dropped the sweeteners and I can tell you I haven't had any weird palpitations since giving those up, that tells me they may not be very good for me. Dieting is one thing but eating unnecessary chemicals is another thing entirely. My grandad always used to say, eat what you like but in moderation and thats not bad advice. I'm also favouring the Mediterranean diet, people eating that just live forever so I may just incorporate that in. I'll have so many syns on Slimming World they will kick me off. Ahhh we'll see! Anyway my brewsters I'm off to battle another day and try to keep on track with the gluten free diet, with added Slimming World and a touch of the Mediterranean. Wish me luck!! I will be back tomorrow for Autism Support Saturday but for now..... Take care. Wow I got this lovely gift of a gluten free brownie mix for Christmas, I know, good eh? Someone knows me very well. All the ingredients are weighed out, popped in plastic bags and presented in a cute little gift box. The instructions are in there too and with this mix all you have to do is add 100g of butter and 3 eggs. Easy peasy.....and you can even make this vegan friendly to by adding a dairy free butter and egg replacer. The ingredients supplied are nut free so this really is a great free from experience.
I baked it yesterday and my goodness it takes so good. You know how some packet mixes are a bit bland and boring, well this is just fantastic. it really is so easy to do and the result is just the best brownies I've tasted in ages and baked by me. You could use this mix to bake with young ones as it is all measured out, there is a bit of pan work but hey kids get a good adult to assist and away you go. There are detailed instructions as I've said but basically with this mix you pop the flour/sugar mix into a mixing bowl and whisk in your eggs or egg replacer. Melt the butter in a pan and add the chocolate chips until smooth, then add this to the flour/sugar/egg mix and pour onto a greased baking tray 18cm x 30cm. Bake for 20 minutes on 170 and after that let it cool on a wire tray until ready to eat, yes it's that easy. I've eaten some warmed up with a dash of double cream (diet starts Monday) and it was so delicious. I cannot tell you how good this was. So my fellow brewsters the only way to really know is to go and purchase one. I know these mixes are available locally at Scoff and Shop in Ticknall, Derbyshire - details here scoff-shop-ltd.business.site They are also available from the Bak'dcake website here bakdcake.com You can also get other packs too such as honeycomb crunch and a blondie mix too. No you don't get Debbie Harry and the guys to unfold out of box and play for you, it's the white chocolate version of the brownie mix. I don't know, I could see your minds working and thinking that you would get cake complete with a rendition of Hanging On The Telephone, or was that just my mind? Anyway please do go and try these mixes, they make a perfect gift and do taste absolutely fabulous. I need to go now and eat brownies before the Teenagers from the Brew wake up, wish me luck! Thank you for reading today, I have now been on this road of blogging for two years, see I needed cake....Happy Birthday to Make a Brew Sue. I feel the need to carry on so join me again tomorrow for Autism Support Saturday. Take care for now. I was in Derby the other week performing with Rock Choir, it was our last sing song before Christmas so a few of us decided to round everything off with some ice cream. I know mad eh? We had all put about fifty layers of clothes on to keep warm as it was a cold and wet December day and yet we still stopped off for ice cream.
Well I couldn't help it really as all these lovely flavours were cast out in front of me looking all delicious so it was just too tempting not to just have a look anyway. The place was literally a step away from where we had been performing in Derby's Market Hall, Just Ice was the name of the place and there was a lovely lady beckoning us to try her ice cream. It was like the landlord of the inn showing Joseph and Mary the way to the stable to give birth to the baby Jesus. Yes it was......come on my fellow brewsters go with me on this........imagine all those flavours of ice cream staring at you, the star of Rock Choir led us there. Alright I'll give the whole nativity thing a rest then but there were some Christmas flavours of ice cream. There was mince pie flavour, gingerbread, brandy snap, chocolate orange and even a vanilla ice cream with little nativity chocolate shape figures. There are dairy free options here and get this, there are also gluten free wafer cones.....how cool is that? I always get disappointed if I can't have an ice cream because of the cornet. Brilliant!! Sally Murray the co owner of this wonderland looked a bit forlorn as she had run out of mulled wine with was also on offer so we improvised. We decided to create a coffee floater, a black coffee with a lovely dollop of their Bailey's ice cream in and oh wow that was gorgeous. Now this tends to cool your coffee down gradually but if you like iced coffee then this starts of as a warm creamy coffee moment and finishes as an iced coffee so you get everything really but it was perfect. I love this place as it is a small family business who use natural ingredients and fair-trade vanilla, chocolate and sugar. They have 'free from' options which means we can all go and have an ice cream and if you are not sure which flavour to devour they offer little free tasters. If you are in the Derby area then please go and support this lovely business. You can book them for an event too. You may have a wedding coming up or a charity event that would be able to offer something a little different. Everyone loves ice cream even in winter. You can find Just Ice at Units 7&8, Derby Market Hall, Tennant St, Derby DE1 2DB and they have a website here: www.just-ice.org So you can get all the information you need......go now and start your new year with ice cream.....it's the way to go! Thank you for joining me today, please pop back again tomorrow for Autism Support Saturday but for now.......... Take care. |
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