Sparkling Cupcakes

We are acting like school children here at Gluten Free Foods.

We cannot stop baking our easy peasy gluten free cupcakes just so that we can top them with our new gluten free Cake Sprinkles!





With 3 variations to choose from- including glittery and chocolatey ones- we now need to find as many opportunities as possible to show off our gluten free delicious treats!

You can join in too! Just make a batch of these easy gluten free Vanilla Cupcakes, top with icing and sprinkle them all over!


Ingredients:

• 110g/4oz butter or margarine, softened at room temperature 
• 110g/4oz caster sugar 
• 2 free-range eggs, lightly beaten 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 110g/4oz Barkat gluten free flour 
• 1-2 tbsp milk 
• Gluten Free Sprinkles

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases. 
• Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale. Beat in the eggs a little at a time and stir in the vanilla extract. 
• Fold in the flour using a large metal spoon, adding a little milk until the mixture is of a dropping consistency. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until they are half full. 
• Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until golden-brown on top and a skewer inserted into one of the cakes comes out clean. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack. 
• Spread with icing 
• Now for the fun bit- cover with as many sparkles as you'd like! 

Welcome Hazel- Our Customer of the Month

Hazel’s Experience- Customer of the Month

This month we hear from Hazel Robotham about how she enjoy her gluten free way of life.

When were you diagnosed with Coeliac?

 12 years ago, although I have had a food/chemical intolerance problem for much longer.

What’s the best thing about being gluten free?

People are starting to realise that gluten-free foods are in greater demand. I am so pleased that manufacturers such as Barkat are rising to the challenge with TASTEFUL Products!

What’s your dream gluten free product?

I already have my dream product. It is my homemade Blueberry muffins which I make using Barkat flour,  for breakfast with home-made Ginger and Rhubarb jam. I also love feta cheese and two small slices of locally farmed – organic – Pork Tenderloin.

What would your advice be to newly diagnosed Coeliacs?

Accept it; get on with it – but use common sense and research recipes and restaurants so that you can fully enjoy a gluten free diet.

What is your favourite Barkat prouct?

Barkat Flour- I use it to make all my favourite treats.

Hazel is a fantastic chef- so we have decided to feature two  of her delicious recipes:

Sugar and Gluten free Blueberry Muffins 

These muffins use the natural sweetness of apple and blueberry, and the surprising sweetness of parsnip, to replace any missing sugar.

MAKES 12

Ingredients

100g  marg, melted                                                                        

250g Barkat Gluten-free Bread Mix

2 eggs beaten                                                                                   

2 tsp Gluten-free baking powder

200 g blueberries                                                                            

1 apple, grated

1 small parsnip peeled and grated                                           

225 ml milk (I use Oatley as I cannot tolerate milk)

½ tsp vanilla essence

Method

1.    PREHEAT the oven to 180c/gas 4. 

2.    Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl, add the apple and parsnip and mix well, and then stir in the beaten eggs, melted marg, milk and vanilla essence and combine well.

3.    Gently fold through the blueberries. Spoon the mixture evenly into muffin cases or muffin trays.

4.    Bake for 20 minutes until golden.

We're all going on a Gluten Free holiday!

School is almost over, the sun is shining and it is almost the height of the summer holiday season!

Here at Gluten Free Foods, we like to go away knowing that we can stay gluten free very easily and with minimal fuss.

That's why we've decided to take the stress out of turning up at a hotel, rented apartment or even at a friend's home by creating our very own 'Gluten Free Foods Holiday Pack'. We have thought of all the key products that you might wish for when on holiday and put them into a very affordable pack for you to pack for your travels.

So what did we think was essential (and delicious) for your trip?

Pretzels: We think these crunchy snacks are the perfect afternoon nibble. Be warned your friends and family may prefer these addictive treats to their own 'gluten' equivalent!

Ice Cream Cones: What holiday doesn't have ice cream involved? We love these with homemade peanut butter ice cream!

Cornflakes: The traditional cereal that never gets boring. We always hand in our cereal to the hotel so that we can order  bowl like everybody else in the mornings.

Pasta Spirals: Don't feel limited on choice when you go out for an Italian meal on holiday. Just hand in our delicious gluten free pasta and pick your favourite sauce.

Crackers: An ideal light lunchtime snack which tastes great with a summery salad.

Bread Rolls: These home fresh bread rolls just need freshening up in the oven - so you can join in with everyone else when the bread is served.

These are our top gluten free essentials which we think are perfect for your holidays.


The best part? We are offering the pack to you for a very reasonable £19.99 - which includes FREE post and package!

 What's more? each product is not too large so it will all fit very comfortably in your suitcase.

Get ordering and enjoy your holidays!

 

Find Us at the Allergy Show

Here at Gluten Free Foods, we are counting down the days until the Allergy + Free From Show at Olympia on Friday 4th - Sunday 6th July.

We have been exhibiting at the show for many years and we love seeing the amount of stalls grow each year!

This year we will be launching our brand new gluten free pasta shells- which we cannot wait for you to enjoy as much as we do!

We will have all our products on offer and so make sure you come and pay our stand a visit!

We are looking forward to seeing all the other brands that we sell on the site as well- such as Newburn Bakehouse, Rosies and BFree.

Make sure you get your free ticket now: www.allergyshow.co.uk/go/glutenfreefoods

Say Hello to Kitty

Some things never go out of fashion. Hello Kitty is one of them. This cute little character is always a childhood favourite. So it is no surprise that Kitty has decided to bring out her own food range and to our delight it is gluten free!

Order these pasta shapes online now and your kids will be very happy at dinner time!

They take under 10 mins to cook and taste delicious with a tomato sauce or any of your favourite sauces.

We also love them sprinkled over a warming soup- and your kids will too!

Enjoy! 

Fuel for Sports Day

School is almost over for the year and it seems that all types of Sports events take over the kids' calender for the summer. Here at Gluten Free Foods, we feel that it is extremely important to make sure that your body is fuelled perfectly in order to give your best sporty performance.

Loads of Barkat food will get your body into gear for your sporty workout. We thought we'd give you just a few of our favourite wholesome recipes to get you inspired!

Tuna, peppers, spring onion, buckwheat pasta salad
Tuna is a great source of Omega 3 and as we know buckwheat is a supergrain, packed with fibre, protein and wholesome carbs.

Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 tin of tuna, drained
2 spring onions, finely chopped
3 peppers (we like to use 3 different colours), finely chopped
1 tin of sweetcorn
400g Buckwheat spirals

For the dressing:
2 tablespoons greek yoghurt
A drizzle of Olive Oil
1/2 lemon, squeezed
salt and pepper
1 tsp wholegrain mustard

Method:

• Boil the pasta in salted water for 10 mins. Once cooked drain in cold water and leave to cool
• Chop the onion, peppers and add to a bowl with the sweetcorn and tuna- stir really well.
• Add the buckwheat and a dash of salt and pepper. Mix well
• Mix all the dressing ingredients together and season to taste.
• Before serving add the dressing to the salad and mix. 
• Seriously easy but seriously yummy!

Wholegrain Turkey, mashed avocado and roasted veg sandwich

The lean protein of the turkey along with the wholesome fibre in the bread, makes this an ideal pre-workout lunch!

Makes 1 sandwich  (perfect for packed lunches) 

Ingredients

2 slices of Barkat Gluten Free Wholemeal Bread

Thin slices of lean turkey (ideally organic)

Butter for spreading

1 tsp of wholegrain mustard

1 tsp of Mayonnaise

1/2 courgette, sliced

1/2 red pepper, sliced

1/2 avocado, mashed

Method:

• Slice the pepper and courgette and drizzle with a little olive oil and salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 20 mins at 180c.
• Spread the bread with a thin layer of butter.
• Mix the Mayo with the mustard and then spread on top of the butter
• Mash the avocado and spread on top of the mayo
• Layer the turkey onto one slice of bread
• Add the roasted vegetables on top the turkey
• Top the turkey with the other slice of bread and enjoy!

Summertime Pasta Salads

We love to eat dinner outside as soon as the sun is shining- there is nothing quite as relaxing as the smell of the barbeque, jugs of Pimms and salads to share for all!

Pasta salads are one of our favourite additions to the dinner table! They are so easy to prepare and taste delicious with barbecued meats and other yummy veggie salads.

Barkat Gluten Free Pasta Spirals are the ideal pasta to use for summer pasta salads. It takes just 10 mins to prepare and taste delicious when mixed with any of your favourite salad additions.

Here's our favourite Pasta Salad Recipe:

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:
350g Barkat Pasta Spirals
150g Frozen Peas
1 Red Onion, chopped
50g Rocket Leaves
50g Olives, Chopped
100g Tomatoes, chopped
200g Feta Cheese, Crumbled
1 Lemon, juice and grated zest
A pinch of Salt and Pepper
A glug of Olive Oil
2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar

Method:

1. Boil the pasta in water and a pinch of salt plus a small glug of olive oil. Cook for 10 - 15 minutes until it is perfectly al dente.

2. 3 minutes before the end of the pasta cooking time, add the peas.

3. Whilst the pasta is cooking, chop the tomatoes, red onion, olives and feta cheese. Add these ingredients to the mixing bowl with the rocket leaves. Grate the lemon and add the zest to the salad bowl.

4. Once the pasta and peas are cooked, strain and rinse under cold water until cool. Add the pasta and peas to the rest of the salad. Mix well.

5. Squeeze the juice of the lemon over the salad, add a glug of olive oil and red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper.

6. Mix really well and enjoy!

Take pictures of your yummy Barbecues and don't forget to send us pictures!