Breakfast in style- Gluten Free Breakfast Bars

The mornings are cold and dark and the only way to get the youngsters out of bed is to entice them with a yummy brekky!

We've got the answer: Using Barkat porridge flakes, we have rustled up a batch of chewy, gooey breakfast bars! These bars are filled with healthy nutrients, full of flavour and seriously easy to make.

Makes 12 bars (can store up to 1 week in an airtight container)

Ingredients

100g butter
3 tbsp golden syrup
85g demerara sugar
140g Barkat porridge flakes
½ tsp ground cinnamon
50g desiccated coconut
2 tbsp linseeds, slightly crushed
1 tbsp sesame seeds
100g chopped hazelnuts

Method

* Heat oven to 160C
* Butter a 22cm square baking tin.
* Melt the butter, syrup and sugar in a pan. Pour in the oats, cinnamon, coconut, seeds and nuts, mix and pour into tin.
* Bake for 30-35 mins. Leave to cool for 5 mins, then cut into slices and enjoy!

Once you have made this a couple of times, begin experimenting- why not add a handful of chocolate chips or some raisins? Let us know your creations!

Mastering Mac'N'Cheese

One of our team is off to NYC next week and the rest of us are very jealous! We think the American cuisine is one of the best in the world (if you don't care too much about your waistline)! One of our favourite dishes is the ultimate comfort food- Macaroni and Cheese

With Barkat macaroni and flour mix, gluten free followers can enjoy this American classic!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

250g Barkat macaroni
40g butter
40g Barkat all-purpose flour
600ml milk
250g grated cheddar
50g grated parmesan

*Cook the macaroni in a large saucepan of boiling salted water for 8-10 minutes; drain well and rinse, then set aside.

*Melt the butter over a medium heat in a saucepan slightly larger than that used for the macaroni. Add the flour and stir to form a roux, cooking for a few minutes.

*Gradually whisk in the milk, a little at a time. Cook for 10-15 minutes to a thickened and smooth sauce. Meanwhile, preheat the grill to hot.

*Remove the sauce from the hob, add 175g of the cheese and stir until the cheese is well combined and melted.

*Add the macaroni to the sauce and mix well. Transfer to a deep ovenproof dish.

*Sprinkle over the remaining cheddar and the parmesan and place the dish under the hot grill. Cook until the cheese is browned and bubbling.

Serve straightaway and enjoy a little taste of American life!

Christmas is on its way!

Fireworks night is over. SO let the festivities commence. Yes, it is fully acceptable to start getting in the spirit of Christmas!

If you haven't seen our Festive Christmas Collection yet then get clicking! We have created the ultimate gluten free gift.

Included in our box of treats is one of our favourite Gluten Free brands; The Foods of Athenry

This family run business, is set among the famous rolling Fields of Athenry. It was once a full-time dairy enterprise and back in 2004, they transformed and became a charming artisan bakery.

Using only fresh ingredients and absolutely no additives in sight, their bakes have earned them 25 Taste Awards!

The artisan bakery has a dedicated Gluten Free area which is where they have created some of our favourite gluten free treats.

Included in our collection are:

The fruity mince pies which are ridiculously moreish. The mincemeat filling is full of dried fruits, nuts and more than enough brandy- the pastry is buttery and light and it is finished off with a pretty pastry star.

The Gluten Free Christmas Pudding- This dessert has won 2 star Great Taste awards and it is easy to see why. Made with the finest of ingredients- select dried fruit macerated for days in brandy & Cider, combined with the other ingredients then gently steamed for up to 5 hours. And finally - seasoned with brandy. The perfect addition to Christmas time. We have even tried it out on those who do not follow a gluten free diet and they loved it!

The Christmas Cake- An ideal Christmas afternoon snack with a cup of tea. Baked with brown sugar, fresh eggs & macerated fruit and topped with marzipan and white icing.

So get ordering and give in to the spirit of Christmas! Also with every Collection you buy you will get a FREE yes FREE gift!

Just call us Santa Claus.

Haunted Halloween Competition & FREE pretzel treats

Can you feel the spook in the air? The creepiest night of the year is dawning. It's time to get the carving knives out and the face paint on- it's HALLOWEEN.

We've been getting creative and have been decorating Barkat Digestive Biscuits with our scariest icing designs.

You've still got 2 days to send in your pictures to: customerservices@glutenfree-foods.co.uk

You could be one of the 5 winners who will receive a FREE pack of Gingerbread Cookies- they are seriously yummy!

Also don't forget- until the end of the week you will receive a FREE pack of pretzels with every order! Just quote OCT13 in the coupon number when you check out!

So- get your icing pens out, get your kids in the kitchen and get ordering!

No tricks just plenty of treats!

Happy Halloween...

Italian Gluten Free Style

The Italian cuisine is one of the most popular- and it is easy to see why. There's nothing more comforting than a bowl of pasta, a slice of crunchy garlic bread and a big slice of pizza. Being gluten free no longer means that you will have to miss out on these favourites.

So if you want an Italian Feast, follow our tasty tips:

Garlic Bread:
1 par baked baguette
1 head of garlic
A splash of olive oil
A pinch of sugar
A pinch of salt
Mozzarella (if you want a cheesy topping)

This is seriously simple-

1. Preheat the oven to 200c
2. Smash the head of garlic to release the cloves and place them in a roasting tin, still in their skins. Add a splash of olive oil and a pinch each of salt and sugar and toss together. Cook in the oven for 20 minutes.
3. Remove from the oven and, when cool enough to handle, squeeze the soft, roast garlic out of their skins.
4. Press the garlic cloves into the baguette (add them to taste).
5. Bake the baguettes for 15 minutes. The baked baguettes should be golden-brown and have a slight sheen to them.
6. If you want a cheesy topping: once cooled, preheat the grill to hot. Slice the bread, top with mozzarella and grill until melted and bubbly.

Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake
This pasta dish is packed with nutrients and is seriously tasty- a real crowd pleaser

Serves 4

400g Buckwheat spirals
1 aubergine
2 peppers (yellow and red make it lovely and colourful)
2 courgettes
1 handful of pine nuts
3 garlic cloves (crushed)
2 shallots
3 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp of pesto
a pinch of salt and pepper
a glug of white wine
1 tbsp of tomato puree
grated mozzarella for a cheesy topping

1. Heat a large frying pan with the olive oil and when hot add the shallots and garlic
2. When soft add the peppers, aubergine, courgettes and leave to cook for 10 minutes mixing every now and then
3. Add a glug of wine and stir, then add the tomato puree, and the pesto and stir.
4. Season with salt and pepper and add the pine nuts. Leave to cook for another ten minutes.
5. Meanwhile cook the pasta for 15 minutes and add salt to taste.
6. Once the pasta is cooked, drain with water and add the pasta to the sauce and mix.
7. Then pour into a casserole dish and cover with the grated cheese
8. Put in the grill for ten minutes until golden and crispy

Serve with the garlic bread and enjoy!

Italian cooking- gluten free style!

Next time: Pizza filling ideas- send us your suggestions!

Melt-in-the-mouth Gluten Free Brownies

As The Great British Bake Off nears the end of the series, all of us at Gluten Free Foods HQ have developed a new found passion for baking.

These gluten free chocolate brownies always go down a treat and are extremely simple to make.

What you need:
100g butter
150g Dark Chocolate
100g Gluten Free Plain Flour (you can get Barkat's flour in the starter pack!)
100g Chopped Hazelnuts
200g Sugar
3 Eggs
1 tsp Barkat Baking Powder

Method:

*Gently melt together the butter and chocolate in a bowl placed over a pan of boiling water.
*In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder and sugar.
*Beat in the eggs followed by the melted butter and chocolate mixture.
*Stir in the nuts if used.
*Pour into a greased and lined baking dish.
*Bake in a pre heated ove for 35/40 minutes.
*Cut into slices before serving.

These brownies are a perfect treat with a cup of tea or coffee during the cold evenings! Send us pics of your creations.

Warm up with a bowl of beet soup

Nothing is more comforting than a big bowl of soup on a cold,wet day.

Seeing as beetroot is in season, we thought we'd share our favourite soup recipe which tastes great with a thick slice of Barkat's gluten free country loaf and a slice of mature cheddar!

We love the vibrant colour of the soup and to get a fiery kick, we add a teaspoon of horseradish- delish!

Ingredients:

* 2 tbsp olive oil
* 1 onion, sliced
* 500g potatoes, peeled and chopped
* 750g beetroot, peeled and chopped
* 600ml chicken or vegetable stock
* 100ml soured cream
* 4-5 tbsp horseradish
* Barkat's Country bread loaf
* small handful dill (to make it look professional!)

* Heat half the olive oil in a large pan. Add the onion and on a medium heat, cook for 5 minutes, until softened.

* Add the potatoes and beetroot and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring all the while. Pour in the chicken or vegetable stock and 500ml of water.

* Bring to the boil, then simmer, partially covered, for 20-25 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

* Pour into a blender, along with half the soured cream, and whizz until smooth. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and add the horseradish, to taste.

* To make it look ultra professional, serve with a teaspoon of soured cream and a sprinkling of chopped dill.

Then all you need to do is bake the crunchy loaf and slice up your favourite cheddar.

This is a definite winter warmer!