Thank you to those of you who keep me informed about lovely new foods for those avoiding the ubiquitous wheat and dairy. First, Genius Bread is a new free-from bread that can be used untoasted and tasted ‘fab’. Foods Matter magazine also think it passes muster: “Excellent bready texture, light good flavour, really remarkable for a gluten-free bread, it does not need refreshing and keeps well.” It is made from potato, corn, tapioca, brown rice, egg, rice bran, cellulose fibre, sugar, salt, sunflower oil and fresh yeast. Available initially just from Tesco, although it should be on wider distribution by Autumn. For more info, go to www.geniusglutenfree.com.
Next, Debbie & Andrew’s 97% Pork Harrogate Sausages. I know I always advise against sausages, but these are an exception as they are almost 100% meat, are gluten and dairy free and contain nothing other than the pork, herbs, spices and some balsamic vinegar. I often cook the whole pack and munch them as a high protein snack as they’re very filling. Try them as a sausage casserole, to make a healthier cooked breakfast, chopped into pasta or rice or simply with sweet potato mash or barley couscous. Yum.
Sweet Freedom is my next choice. This is a liquid sweetener made from extracts of apple, grapes and carob, comes in mild or rich flavours and in a handy squeezy bottle. Ideal for weight management as it has a low GI (Glycaemic Index) and GL (Glycaemic Load) and 25% fewer calories than sugar. It is also suitable for diabetics and vegans. I’ve checked and nutritionally-speaking, it’s almost identical to agave syrup. It’s available in most supermarkets and can be used on toast, porridge, drinks and cooking.
For a treat, here are a couple of recipes suggested by Sweet Freedom, which I’ve adapted to make slightly healthier. Of course, you could use SF or agave to get a similar result:
No added sugar Apple Crumble
This recipe is also wheat free! Ready In: 45 minutes or less Serves: 4
- 2 large cooking apples
- 1 tbsp SWEET FREEDOM
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- zest & juice of half a lemon
Crumble topping:
- 100g porridge oats
- 50g medium oatmeal or
- 50g ground almonds
- 1 1/2 tbsp SWEET FREEDOM
- 50g Pure spread
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F / Gas Mark 4.
- Wash and peel the apples, remove the core and chop into small slices.
- Put into an oven proof dish, and stir in the SWEET FREEDOM, cinnamon, lemon zest and juice.
- Put all the crumble topping ingredients into your blender and pulse until well mixed. If you don’t have a blender, rub the spread into the oat and almond mix first and then stir in the SWEET FREEDOM.
- Sprinkle evenly over the top of the apples.
- Place in the pre-heated oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until the top is golden.
No added sugar Nutty Flapjacks
This recipe is also wheat free! Ingredients
- 80g Pure spread
- 110g SWEET FREEDOM
- 50g peanut or other nut butter (no added sugar version)
- 175g porridge oats
- 50g ground almonds
- 55g desiccated coconut (no added sugar)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F / Gas mark 4.
- Grease a medium-sized square baking tray.
- Melt the spread in a large saucepan with the SWEET FREEDOM
- Stir over a low heat until melted then stir in all the other ingredients and mix together well.
- Turn the mix into the baking tray and spread out evenly.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and cut into squares.
- Leave in the tin until completely cool and then turn out.