Baking Best Bits: Gluten Free Carrot & Pecan Cake

Good gluten free cakes are hard to come by and are normally way more expensive than others in shops and cafes.
One cake which I still haven't managed to track down a good gluten free version of is carrot cake so I decided to amend a regular recipe and give it a bash using a gluten free blend flour.

I've made this a few times now...my girls and hubby both love it and you'd never know it was gluten free. Think the moistness of the carrot helps.

Here's the recipe for anyone who wants to try:

Cake
2 x 23cm cake tins
250g self raising flour (I used Doves Farm Self Raising Mix)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
400g caster sugar
350ml vegetable oil
4 eggs
350g grated carrots (would recommend squeezing out the excess liquid)
120g chopped pecans

Cream Cheese Icing
225g cream cheese
100g margarine/butter softened
450g icing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pecans for decorating

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4.
2. Grease cake tins.
3. In a bowl, stir together the flour, cinnamon and sugar.
4. Add the oil and eggs, mixing until blended.
5. Stir in the carrots and nuts.
6. Divide mixture evenly between both tins.
7. Bake for 25-30mins until golden brown and a skewer comes out clean.
8. Cool on wire racks before removing from tins.
9. To make icing, cream together the butter and cream cheese.
10. Add sugar and cream well.
11. Add the vanilla essence and stir well.
12. Add icing to middle of layers and to the top if you fancy. Also use pecans to decorate (unfortunately I didn't have enough left over this time).

And then enjoy! Plus, carrots are vegetables so this has to be a little good for you, right?!

Review - Hotel Chocolat Easter Pick Me Up

It's the time of year where all the supermarkets have a tonne of chocolate in, everyone is tired and looking forward to the better weather and what a great way to bring a spring to your step than Hotel Chocolat's Easter Pick Me Up.

The lovely people at Hotel Chocolat sent me this lovely little treat set for us to review. There was a great selection inside...Raspberry Zinger Egglets, Salted Caramel Egglets and White Praline Bunnies.

Normally I'm a praline kinda girl but I really enjoyed both types of egglets...it was nice to try something a bit different for a change and the raspberry within them was really refreshing.

The girls' favourite were the praline bunnies. They were really rich and of course nutty, which I love!

This set would make a lovely gift for adults and children alike and certainly lifted our spirits on a dull and wet spring day!

This retails at £13 and what makes this even better is that it was completely gluten free. What more could I ask for?!

TGI Fridays Goes Gluten Free

So excited to hear that TGI Fridays will soon be offering gluten free burger buns on their new menu which will be launched over the next few days.

I was lucky enough to sample one of their new buns on my recent visit and have to say it was lovely being able to eat a burger without having to be 'bunless'! I had a French Canadian burger which was delicious.

Looking forward to seeing what their new menu has to offer!

Baking Best Bits: Gluten Free Lemon & Rosemary Cake

I have been trying to cut out gluten as much as I can, which has been manageable with bread & pasta, however I am really missing eating cakes (shhh...I'm meant to be on a diet).

I have tried various gluten free cakes before, with the best one I've tasted being Costa's Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie, which is lovely and moist.

So I decided to give making my own cake a bash and saw Nigel Slater doing a Lemon & Thyme cake on TV - his version wasn't gluten free however it did use ground almonds, meaning the cake would stay a bit moister.  I didn't have thyme, so I thought I would substitute with rosemary...it works well with chicken, right?

One of my handy helpers (Lauren), helped to mix the cake ingredients together and we popped it in the oven and crossed our fingers.  It was cooked on a low heat and first impressions were that it was rising well, which is always a good sign!  It smelled absolutely amazing.

After waiting a while for it to cool (we probably managed to hold off for 10 mins - our mouths were watering!), we cut into it and had a slice when it was still warm.  Served with a dollop of extra thick double cream, it was literally to die for!

I have included the recipe below for anyone who wants to try it themselves. I think I may have found my new signature cake :)

Lemon & Rosemary Cake

Ingredients:

200g butter (unsalted if possible and at room temperature)
200g golden caster sugar
100g Doves Farm Plain Gluten Free flour (can also subsitute for regular plain flour)
1 tsp gluten free baking powder
100g ground almonds
4 decent sized eggs
1 lemon (zest only)
1 teaspoon rosemary (finely chopped)

For the syrup:

4 tablespoon of sugar
2 large lemons (juice only)
½ teaspoon rosemary (finely chopped)

How to:

Pre-heat the oven to 160C. Line a tin with greaseproof paper.

1. Cream the butter with the sugar until pale and fluffy (it recommends doing in a food mixer, however I did this by hand). 

2. In a separate bowl sift together the flour and baking powder then mix with the almonds.

3. Add the eggs to the butter mixture one at a time, beating them in thoroughly each time.

4. Grate the zest from the lemon, mix it with the rosemary and stir into the cake mixture.

5. Gradually mix in the flour, baking powder and almonds.

6. Spoon the cake mixture into the lined tin and bake for 35-45 minutes (I used my fan assist setting which took less time)

7. For the syrup, dissolve the sugar in the juice of the lemons over a medium heat and stir in the rosemary. Boil for 10 minutes until it becomes thicker.

8. As the cake comes from the oven, spike the surface with a skewer and spoon over the syrup.

I would highly recommend serving this with a dollop of cream, however it also tastes amazing on it's own.

Would love to hear if any of you tried this and what you thought.  I made it for my work colleagues and it went down a storm :)

Review - Genius Gluten Free Mince Pies

As you know, I've been trying to cut gluten out of my diet as much as I can, and I've really noticed a difference.

I've tried a few of the gluten free range from Genius (including their tasty afternoon tea in conjunction with the Scotsman Hotel!), so when I heard they had mince pies available for Christmas time, I was excited!

I just love mince pies and how Christmassy they make me feel, so when the lovely people at Genuis sent me a box to try, I couldn't wait.

I had mine warm with a little squirt of cream (you've got to have some cream, right?!) and they were delicious. The pastry was light and the filling was rich and fruity. These are far too easy to eat - I scoffed two in the one go!

I noticed these were also available in both my local Tesco and Asda, but are also available to order online direct from the Genius website, along with the rest of their gluten free range.

Review - Pizza Hut Gluten Free Pizza

A friend on Twitter recently posted that they had been to Pizza Hut for their new gluten free pizza base. I had no idea Pizza Hut were offering gluten free food, so since we hadn't been for a while, we decided to go and check it out.

Whilst I'm not on an entirely gluten free diet, the majority of things I now eat are restricted in the gluten they contain.
Previously going to Pizza Hut, would've meant enjoying a delicious pepperoni pizza but then suffering afterwards with stomach pains, so we haven't been for ages.

We went at 3pm as we knew this is when Pizza Hut did their Happy Hour...pizza/pasta plus a side, unlimited salad and a bottomless drink for £6 - bargain!

On being seated in the restaurant, we were handed the menus and I asked if it would be a problem to have a gluten free base on this deal. The waitress went to check and was disappointed to be told they couldn't do the gluten free base in the happy hour deal. Unsure why, as it's the same size of pizza offered, however I ordered from the main menu whilst my husband ate from the Happy Hour menu.

I ordered the BBQ Meat Feast pizza without cheese, on a gluten free base.
Having eaten a base similar to this before, I wasn't expecting much, but the base was lovely and thin, and not overly dry or crispy. It was similar to the Italian base and the topping was tasty.

Overall I was really impressed and will definitely go back again. It would have been good for this to be included in their deals as gluten intolerant customers should be able to enjoy this as any other diner. However I do understand that Pizza Hut are still trialling the gluten free base and hopefully will be introduced as standard across all their options.

Review - The Scotsman Hotel Afternoon Tea...Gluten Free

As I've mentioned before, I am trying to cut down on the amount of gluten I eat. When I heard that The Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh were now doing a gluten free afternoon tea, I was really excited!

I love cakes but usually after eating them I feel a bit yucky. So when the lovely team at The Scotsman gave me the opportunity to sample a complimentary gluten free afternoon tea, I jumped at the chance!

Head chef Paul Hart, has teamed up with Genius, who do a range of gluten free breads, to offer this delicious afternoon tea.

My husband and I were in Edinburgh for an overnight to celebrate our anniversary and decided to visit The Scotsman during our trip.

                               

The Scotsman itself, is a lovely hotel and The North Bridge Brasserie is equally as stunning. With rich wood panelling on the walls and small cosy tables, it's the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for some yummy treats.

The attentive waiting staff showed us to a perfectly set table and we opted for the gluten free afternoon tea as well as a regular one for my husband.

On arrival, the stands were both filled with a fabulous selection of crustless sandwiches, cakes, scones, clotted cream and a choice of Wilkin & Sons preserves on the table.

I have tried gluten free products before and to be honest, have thought they were pretty dry and bland, so I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I wasn't to be disappointed.

On the bottom tier of the stand were a selection of sandwiches on both white and brown breads...cheddar cheese & pickle, honey roast Ayrshire ham & Arran mustard, egg mayonnaise with watercress and delicious smoked Scottish salmon with a herb cream cheese.

On the middle and top tiers a variety of mouth watering cakes...a moist strawberry & ginger cake decorated with a chocolate curl, a big slice of mocha & dark chocolate loaf, a delicate lemon curd meringue, a caramelised banana macaron, lemon & raisin pancakes and a fresh from the oven fruit scone. Strawberry and raspberry jams and a pot of clotted cream were the perfect accompaniments.

My husband too had the same selection of sandwiches on regular bread, as well as a fruit scone, lemon curd meringue, but also had lemon & poppyseed loaf, chocolate cupcake and a few others too. An absolute feast for both of us!

Under normal circumstances if I had eaten this amount of cakes and sandwiches, my stomach would be beginning to suffer, however after eating all of this (despite feeling I would have to roll out of the hotel) I felt great!

The afternoon teas are priced at £16.95 per person served with a selection of teas & coffees, however there is also the option of adding a glass of Prosecco or Champagne for an extra special treat.

It's great to see hotels and restaurants catering for those intolerant to gluten and we will definitely be returning to the Scotsman for another afternoon tea in the near future. My birthday is coming up at the end of October, so a perfect excuse!

Sweet & Savoury...a heavenly combination

So I've been on a diet recently, which has been quite challenging at times and have not always managed to stay on the wagon.

One of the days I fell of that wagon was yesterday. Not a very diet friendly day, including a McDonalds breakfast, some doughnuts and later a trip to Tesco, just meant disaster.

I've been introduced recently to (and I'm now a lover of) Sweet & Salted popcorn , so when I saw this bar of Lindt Milk Chocolate with a Touch of Sea Salt, I just had to try it.

Lindt is one of my favourite chocolates...there is just never enough of it! This newly released flavour is just amazing. Squares of creamy milk chocolate, with small flakes of sea salt throughout. The perfect combination of sweet and savoury.

If you haven't tried it yet, you have to. I promise you won't regret it (but your diet might!)

Tyrrells Tasty Treats

So everyone loves going to the cinema, but the thing I hate is choosing between popcorn. Sweet. Or salted. Sweet. Or salted. Normally I end up going salted (and then munch my way through a bag of Minstrels too) so when I came across this bag of Tyrrells Sweet & Salty popcorn, my taste buds started a-tingling.

Now this doesn't solve the whole sweet/salted dilemma at the cinema, as it's nice to have a nice big box to share when you're there. But for those cosy nights in, in front of the tv, this bag is perfect.

The popcorn is light and crisp, with just the right balance of both sweet and savoury. It makes it very more'ish and before you know it, the whole bag is finished.

Now my only problem, is two sets of tiny popcorn loving hands who try to get their mitts on some. I really must work on finding a better hiding place for these the next time I buy some. Or wait until the cover of darkness before I munch my way through my next bag.

Spotlight On: Patisserie Valerie

After a recent trip to Edinburgh, I stumbled across what I can only describe as a shop that dreams are made of...Patisserie Valerie.

The shop situated on Rose Street in Edinburgh, offers a fantastic selection of delicate and delicious cakes and patisserie right in the centre of Scotland's capital.

The recently opened shop and cafe, is the 56th Patisserie Valerie to be opened in the UK and the second in Scotland (the other shop is situated on North Bridge, Edinburgh).  Founded in 1926 by Madam Valerie after setting up her first shop in London's Soho, the business has grown and is now branching out across the UK.

The selection of cakes on offer in the shop is to die for...from chocolate croissants as quick breakfast treat on the way to the office, fruit tarts and mille feuille, to magnificent celebration cakes.

I treated myself and my girls (who when arrived at the window of the shop, did nothing but stare in amazement!) to a slice of Black Forest and Double Chocolate cake.

The Black Forest was a light chocolate sponge, filled with cream and black cherries, topped with a chocolate curl, Patisserie Valerie chocolate disc and more cream.

The Double Chocolate slice was a generous helping of rich chocolate cream sandwiched in between dark chocolate sponge, with a whole profiterole on top for extra decadence!

Patisserie Valerie has an online ordering service for their celebration cakes, which look out of this world - I must remember to drop enough hints to my husband to order one of these for my birthday!

We unfortunately didn't have time to sit in the cafe on this visit, however on our next trip to Edinburgh, I will definitely be making a plan to enjoy a slice (or two!) when there.

New Year, New Me

I know its a bit late in the year to be making new year resolutions, but one thing I was determined to do in 2012 is to be a bit healthier.

As well as losing some weight (I've managed to lose 12lbs already...go me!), I had also wanted to consider perhaps moving towards a gluten-free diet, or at least cutting down on the amount of gluten I am eating.

Gluten brings it own problems...bloating, upset tummies, tiredness, so with that in mind, I started cutting down on the amount of bread I was eating.  I've noticed quite a difference already.  I've not cut it out completely, but certainly reduced the amount I'm having.

When I mentioned on Twitter that I had been considering switching to gluten-free, the lovely Anni at Storm Communications sent me on a Nakd Wholefoods goodie box, filled with lots of yummy treats. Nakd prides itself on providing a range of natural snacks, that are healthy, are wheat, dairy and gluten free and most importantly, really really tasty!  The bars are raw fruit, nuts and natural flavours all smooshed together and rolled into a handy snack.

Included in the box were the range of Nakd bars. Lots of flavours to choose from...Cocoa Delight, Cocoa Mint, Cocoa Orange, Cashew Cookie, Berry Delight, Ginger Bread and my favourite Pecan Pie.  Nakd also offer a range of infused raisins...I had Tangy Lime and Crazy Cola to choose from (ideal for kids lunchboxes and for snacking on at work), but they also do Cherry, Lemon, Pineapple and Orange infused raisins too.

As well as thinking food differently now I am on my diet, its also nice to be able to look at other alternatives, knowing that they're not packed full of sugars and other nasties.

The only problem now, is hiding them from my cupboard raiding toddlers...

An apple a day...

It's a new year, and everyone always starts the year with lots of resolutions - the most popular one to be more healthy and get fit in the coming year.

I try it every year.  Do a fad diet for a few weeks, think I am doing really well by losing a few pounds and then get bored of it and end up back at my starting weight again. Sigh....

If only there was something to keep you motivated and interested.  I'm not promising wonders, but I spied this little Apple Design Lunch Bag at only £4.95 on dotcomgiftshop.com and thought that by filling this with lovely healthy treats, it might be a bit more of a pleasure taking a packed lunch into work - what do you think?

Also came across these scrummy looking Snack Boxes for £6.95 for keeping your treats all nice and fresh.  And I'm sure the smallest one could hold at least 6 Maltesers - that's got to sway it, right?

Baking Best Bits: Banana Loaf

With two (sometimes fussy) toddlers, I try to do as much as I can to sneak in fruit and vegetables to their food.  As mentioned in a previous post, they also love baking at the moment, so what better way than to combine the two. And it's a great way to use up overripe bananas.

Today I found myself with them both a bit under the weather and thought a good way to cheer them up would be to make some yummy Banana Loaf with them. It's really easy to make and doesn't take too long in the oven, which means they don't get fed up waiting.

Today I have made two versions...Banana & Chocolate Chip and Banana, Honey & Sultanas.  You can mix and match depending on what kind of version you like.  But here is the basic recipe:

Banana Loaf

Ingredients (this is based on a small loaf tin, however today I have doubled up all quantities)

1 ripe banana
3 dessert spoonfuls of sunflower/olive oil
50g caster sugar
110g plain flour
1 level teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
Raisins or sultanas (add to taste)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 200C
• Mash banana in a bowl and add in the oil
• Mix together the sugar, flour and baking powder in a separate bowl
• Beat egg and add to the banana
• Add raisins/sultanas (or chocolate chips) to banana and stir
• Then add all of the dry ingredients and stir well
• Grease loaf tin and pour in the mixture
• Bake in the oven for 30-40mins at 200C, or until golden brown and a skewer comes out clean
• Leave to cool in the tin

This is amazing when eaten slightly warm (especially the choc chip version as the chocolate is still all gooey!)

And of course, it's made with fruit so it must be good for you...