Gluten Free Bread: Bodhi's Bakehouse

Another bakery that specialises in Gluten Free bread is Bodhi's Bakehouse

They sell a range of breads including:

• Gluten & Yeast Free Loaf  
• Maize & Soya Gluten Free Loaf
• Multi Grain Gluten Free Loaf
• Chia Linseed Loaf Gluten Free

They also sell a number of products I will be trying very soon

Pancake Mix
Gluten Free - Chocolate Macadamia Cookie 150g


  Gluten Free - Chocolate Macadamia Cookie Counter Box (10 x 60g) 

Gluten Free - Chocolate Orange Jaffa Cookie 150g


Gluten Free - Chocolate Orange Jaffa Cookie Counter Box (10 x 60g)

Gluten Free - Lemon Shortbread Cookie 150g

 

Gluten Free - Lemon Shortbread Cookie Box (10) 60g each 

  Gluten Free Lupin Cookies(Designer Wise)

 

Gluten Free- Chocolate Latte Cookies150g 

 

Sweetheart Cookie Tray (Al-Free) 180g 

Vegan Anzac Cookie Tray (Al-Free) 180g 

 

Wheat Free Gluten Free Pizza Base 2pkt

 

 

Bodhi's Bakery Gluten Free Product Line
http://www.bodhi.com.au/store.php/categories/gluten-free

Gluten-Free Hamburgers

If there is one thing that I have really missed since switching to a gluten-free diet it is a tasty Australian hamburger with the lot. It's not like I ate them every day, week or month - but when the craving hits there is just nothing like the combination of bacon, beetroot, onions and sauce - magic.

I have to confess that last month I broke down and bought a hamburger at McDonalds Warilla. It was on a day filled with medical appointments and I just caved. I knew what the gluten in the bun would do to me but my restraint had just disappeared. I was riding past the sign for McDonalds when headed to the car park of Warilla Library when I found myself headed into McDonalds instead. Despite the fact I knew what previous visits had triggered (stomach cramps, bloating, irritable bowel, discomfort, brain fog etc) I just couldn't help myself. Sadly the hamburger was very disappointing and I was wishing that it had been a tasty hamburger with the lot.

As I look at the photo I took of the Hamburger with the Lot from Metzi's Tasty Takeaways it prompted me to make a challenge to all takeaway operators in the Illawarra and readers of this blog

MAKE YOUR OWN GLUTEN-FREE HAMBURGER!

I have found a number of recipes online and online stockists of gluten-free burger buns.



About.com - Gluten Free Burger Bun

Gluten Free bun featuring white rice flour, potato starch, tapioca starch and amaranth flour 

http://glutenfreecooking.about.com/od/glutenfreebreads/r/gfburgerbun.htm





Gluten Free Girl - Gluten-Free burger bun recipe

Includes almond and rice flour as well as a pre-bought flour mix

http://glutenfreegirl.com/gluten-free-hamburger-buns/




And for those that don't have the time, I can recommend SimplyWize Crusty Bread mix




Simply Wize Gluten-Free Crusty Bread

Open the box, make up the mixture and bake some of the tastiest crusty burger buns you can imagine. 

Simply Wize has a growing range of gluten-free products to choose from. Ask your local supermarket, health food store or retailer to order some in today.

I have been fortunate to sample many of their products and look forward to trying them all.

Momentum Foods - Simply Wize
http://www.momentumfoods.com.au/products.html


 And after much searching I have found hamburger buns pre-made which could be frozen and kept on hand in home or at a cafe

SOL Gluten Free Hamburger Rolls - pack of  4

SOL Breads Gluten Free bread is famous for both taste and the added health benefits. Our gluten free bread is not only gluten free, but also free from yeast, dairy, soy, additives and emulsifiers.

This is a bag of four rolls each weighing 150g.

Bodhi Gluten-Free Rolls

"A great tasting gluten free loaf that Coeliac sufferers just can't stop talking about. Free of wheat and gluten but still providing an excellent source of Omega 3 without the use of animal fats and preservatives."

Only $5 for a pack of 4 rolls





Do you know of a takeaway or restaurant that offers gluten free hamburgers? Let us know!

Gluten Free Bakery pies

It has been quite a while since I was last able to have a meat pie, or any pie for that matter, since I made the switch to a gluten free diet. Imagine my delight when I spotted a range of gluten free pies at Go Vita Shellharbour City in the freezer section.

So far I have tried the Beef and Mushroom pies ($10 for 2) and the Thai Chicken Pies ($11.42 for 2) but I am sure I will eat my way through the range of pies which is listed below. For more products visit their website and ask your local stores to order them in!

Prices are for a pack of two, unless otherwise stated
$ 9.05 Beef
$ 8.95 Beef & Bacon
$ 8.95 Beef & Mushroom
$ 8.95 Beef, Tomato & Onion
$ 8.95 Beef & Vegetable
$ 9.49 Vegetable
$ 10.46 Chicken
$ 11.35 Chicken & Vegetable
$ 10.38 Curry Beef
$ 11.42 Thai Chicken
$ 9.63 Vegetable Thai
$ 9.80 Cottage
$ 6.93 Apple
$ 8.54 Apricot
$ 7.40 Pineapple
$ 9.98 Pepper Steak
$ 12.41 Party Beef Pies (pack of 6)
$ 12.77 Party Chicken Pies (pack of 6)
$ 13.38 Party Vegetable Pies (pack of 6)

Links:

Gluten Free Bakery on the net 
http://glutenfreebakery.net/

Go Vita Shellharbour
http://www.govita.com.au/store_detail.php?my_seq=94

Syndian Gluten-Free Lentil Burgers

Another gluten free product spotted at Go Vita Shellharbour in their frozen and refrigerated section is the Syndian burger patties. 


I love lentils and I should eat more of them. I often add them to soup but it had been a while since I have eaten a lentil burger. 


I found it tasty but I must admit I added a little bit of lemon juice for some needed acidity and it really complemented the ingredients of  lentil, brown rice, vegetables, tahini and seeds. 


You can cook them in the oven, the microwave, on a bbq or health grill


Syndian products include

• Burgers, Patties, Bites
• Classic Range Burgers
• Gourmet Dips
• Gourmet Soups
• Pastas
• Ready Meals

To view the full range of Syndian products visit their website and become a fan of their Facebook and twitter accounts




Links: 
Syndian Website 
http://www.syndian.com.au/


Syndian on Facebook
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Syndian-Natural-Food-Products/151550352056?sk=info


Syndian on Twitter
https://twitter.com/#!/Syndian

Gluten Free Friands at McDonalds

Ever walked into a McDonalds and thought

'is there anything here which is gluten free?" 

Unfortunately they do not offer a gluten free bun or wrap option but they DO have gluten free friands in McCafe! Only $2.40 and absolutely delicious. So far I have tried the raspberry friand and chocolate friand. On the McDonalds McCafe section they list more gluten-free products:

• Orange & Almond - Mini 
• Gluten Free Triple Choc Fudge Cookies 
• Gluten Free White Choc Chunk & Macadamia Nut Cookie
• Jaffa torte
• Almond and Orange Loaf

They also have garden salads which are tasty and healthy. Even better is to order a classic seared chicken without the mayonnaise and bun!

Classic Seared Chicken: 100% marinated chicken breast chicken breast with salad leaves

Other menu items which are gluten free include:

• creamy ranch dipping sauce
• honey mustard dipping sauce
• salad dressing -italian
• hashbrown
• garden salad

Some items which contain gluten that surprised me:

• iced coffee
• sundae - hot fudge
• vanilla chai latte
• caramel flavoured syrup
• hazelnut flavoured syrup
• vanilla flavoured syrup
• frappe (all of them)
• soy milk

I love hot fudge sundaes and never thought they would contain gluten. 

Read the nutirition: food sensitivities list for more information

Links:

McDonalds Food Sensitivity overview

http://mcdonalds.com.au/sites/mcdonalds.com.au/files/images/Food-Sensitivity-7-April-2011.pdf

McCafe Menu items

http://mcdonalds.com.au/sites/mcdonalds.com.au/files/images/McCafe-The-Full-Range.pdf

Books: The Gluten-Free Gourmet Cooks Comfort Foods

The Gluten-Free Gourmet Cooks Comfort Foods: Creating Old Favorites with the New Flours
By Bette Hagman

The latest addition to the bestselling series of cookbooks that have sold more than 350,000 copies—now in paperback In this latest addition to the Gluten-free Gourmet series, Bette Hagman turns her hand to hearty, filling foods that were once off-limits to celiacs. Using the new gluten-free flours that are now available she puts old favorites such as macaroni and cheese, chicken pot pie, and lasagna back on the menu. Best of all, these more than two hundred all-new recipes are so mouthwatering delicious you won't believe they're gluten free.

Products: Orgran Multigrain O's with Quinoa

I've noticed the Orgran Supergrains Multigrain O's with Quinoa on the shelves of Woolworths and Go Vita for a while now. I don't normally eat cereal for breakfast, choosing to make cheese melts with gluten-free bread. Out of concern for my cholesterol and fat intake I decided to buy what looked like a healthy cereal that I could also nibble on dry as a treat.

When I opened the box and had my first taste I was initially a little disappointed but then I could taste the subtle vanilla flavour. The  more I ate the more I enjoyed them.

Orgran Multigrain O’s with Quinoa is a nutritious breakfast superfood made from 80% wholegrains and 15% protein rich legumes and contains no added cane sugar.

Ingredients: 
Brown Rice (70%), Yellow Pea (15%), Quinoa Real (10%), Brown Rice Syrup, Dextrose from Maize, Psyllium (2%), Pear Juice Concentrate,
Calcium Carbonate (1%), Emulsifier: Monoglyceride from vegetable,
Natural vanilla, Salt, Turmeric

Products: Orgran Rice and Millet Spirals

I must admit I've had a love / hate relationship with gluten-free pasta and spaghetti. I love being able to eat pasta without getting stomach cramps and other symptoms when I eat wheat. What I didn't like was the texture of the pasta after it was cooked. Some brands are very fragile and can go to gloop when cooked.

A few months ago I spotted Orgran Rice and Millet Spirals in Woolworths and I was intrigued. Made of brown Brown Rice (94.5%) and Stoneground Millet (5.5%) they taste nice and whenever I have cooked the pasta it has kept its shape and form. Finally a pasta that is healthy AND tasty!

I love the Orgran range and get excited whenever I see a new product. Check out their range today!

Products: Orgran Biscotti

I have been enjoying a number of Orgran products and tonight I tried the Orgran Biscotti classic choc oven baked cookies. To be honest when I was in Go Vita Shellharbour I thought it was a cookie mix that I had to cook up myself. Imagine my surprise when I opened the bag and they were ready to eat!

A moreish morsel of chocolatey goodness and gluten, wheat, dairy, egg, yeast, soy and nut free!

Made of maize starch, raw sugar, palm vegetable oil, brown rice flour, coconut desiccated (sulphur dioxide), pea flour, cocoa (3%), brown rice syrup, Psyllium, vegetable gum: guar, raising agents: sodium bicarbonate,
calcium carbonate, salt, Emulsifier: Monoglycerides from vegetable, natural vanilla flavour.


I personally love the tiny bits of shredded coconut which makes it a really nice texture. It was my first time to try them but definitely won't be the last!

Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns from Simply Wize

Recently I tried the delicious hot cross buns from Simply Wize. I thought I would have to forgo this Easter treat but now I can indulge in this steamy hot treat with butter and perhaps some home made plum jam. Yumm!

Gluten is the protein component of wheat, spelt, rye, barley and oats. 
In people with coeliac disease, gluten causes damage to the lining of
the small intestine (villi). As a result, the ability to absorb nutrients is
impaired and people can become very unwell. Following a gluten
free diet doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of delicious
food and proper nutrition.

The buns are smaller than their wheat-based alternatives but I like the smaller portion size because I am trying to shed some kilos ahead of the summer months. It has been proven that Winter can be the best time of the year to lose weight due to the cold as long as you don't indulge in the comfort foods and staying indoors can mean more snacks and meals than when there is warmer weather.

Ingredients

Flour Blend [Maize Flour, Rice Starch, Tapioca Starch, Soy Protein, Egg White, Sugar, Salt, Stabilizers,(461,464), Dextrose, Emulsifier (472(e)), Guar Gum (412), Stabilizer (466)], Water, Dried Fruit (Sultanas, Currants, Mixed Peel), Sugar, Egg, Vegetable Oil, Yeast, Spices, Glaze [Sugar, Water, Glucose Syrup, Pectin (440), Carrageen (407), Citric Acid (330), Sodium citrate (331), Calcium Lactate (327), Potassium Sorbate (202)], Nature Identical Flavours

Allergy Advice

Contains Egg & Soy. May contain Sulphates

 Nutritional Information chart from Simply Wize



Simply Wize products are available in some Woolworths and Coles supermarkets. If they are not available at yours then ask them to order in. Persistence and asking to talk to the person who orders new products is often more efficient than asking one person one time. I get a thrill when I see a new product in the Gluten Free aisle and I am sure you will feel the same way.

Proactive and Persistence wins over Indifference over time is my motto :) Ask nicely and explain that it is such a treat to be able to eat a gluten-free equivalent of your favourite foods helps make life less grey than going without, especially at Easter when you have family visit or take them with you at the next gathering.

So, try out the Hot Cross Buns for yourself and make sure to take a photo of your Easter Fare for a chance to win a basket of Simply Wize treats. Just upload the image to our Flickr group with the tag

"simply wize hot cross buns" and "easter competition" to be in with a chance. Entries close May 1st with the winner announced on the 2nd.

Good luck!

Vanessa Pike-Russell
http://www.vanessapikerussell.com.au

Gluten Free Pizza: Costa Azzurra

Located in Fairy Meadow just north of Wollongong provides traditional gourmet woodfire pizzas with a menu based on homestyle Italian cuisine. Executive Chef and co-owner Chris Stojanovski has devised a diverse menu that ensures an impeccable dining experience.

I was viewing the Country Life website and their list of restaurants and retail outlets in the Illawarra and saw that Costa Azzurra was on the list. It is great to see so many pizza restaurants catering for those requiring a gluten-free diet.  Make sure that you tell them that you heard about them on Illawarra Gluten Free.

 

Costa Azzurra is open Tuesday through to Sunday evenings from 5pm until late. They are also open for lunch gatherings 7 days a week for bookings of 15 people & above. Functions are available for up to 120 people with exclusive rights of the premises. For a dining experience in a relaxed, casual setting that is a family friendly environment and simply classic Italian food,  visit Costa Azzurra Woodfire Restaurant. For bookings call 4285 4520.

COSTA AZZURRA
Woodfire Restaurant
71 Princes Highway
Fairy Meadow
Ph : 02 4285 4520

Gluten-free friands from Gloria Jeans, Shellharbour

Last week I was shopping at Stocklands Shellharbour and feeling peckish. I stopped at Gloria Jeans and spotted their gluten-free friands made with almond meal.

For those who don't know, a Friand is traditionally made mainly with nut-meal, usually Almond, butter (melted at exactly the right temperature) and only a small measure of flour. Unlike the many oval or rectangular basic sponge cup cakes I see around posing as Friands, ours are the real thing - moist and long lasting. If you've ever eaten one of ours you'll never forget the difference. These were another example of successful in-house development. Based on a recipe from an old and treasured pastry-cook's "bible", all in French, Marc Spender - our R&D specialist at the time, developed eight spectacular flavours - I recommend the Lime!

The last time I had enjoyed a friand was from Out For Lunch at the University of Wollongong. They also serve gluten-free bread and a wide range of products.

It is great to see more cafes and retail outlets offering gluten-free options! Do you know of a cafe or restaurant that offers gluten-free options? Please let me know and I will add it to this blog and the directory of gluten-free Illawarra and Google Map.

Regards, Vanessa


Sent from my iPhone

Butterfingers Gluten Free Shortbread

I love shortbread. I love making my own and putting it into gift tins as Christmas presents. I always use rice flour and everyone loves the crumbly texture and flavour.

Recently I was browsing the gluten free aisles of Woolworths Warilla and spotted my favourite brand of Shortbread - Butterfingers.

This deliciously smooth pure butter shortbread is gluten free (tested) and has been made for people with a wheat intolerance. Look out for new flavour varieties on the supermarket shelf. 

Butterfingers Gluten Free shortbread is packaged in a single sealed tamper-evident inner and packed into cartons of 12.

For further product information please contact info@butterfingers.com.au

Sugar Cube Belgium Waffles, Wollongong:Vanessa Pike-Russell

Today I finally made it into The Sugar Cube in Wollongong and enjoyed a gluten-free waffle with strawberries and cream. Such indulgence!

I also enjoyed a mocha and sat down at the cute red stools and table and enjoyed having a few moments to myself and just taking my time to enjoy my first ever gluten-free belgium waffles and a cup of Lazumba mocha coffee.

Definitely not the last time! I would love to try their Banoffee waffles. A great way to warm up on a cold, overcast day.

The service was fantastic and so friendly. Definitely worth a visit!

The Sugar Cube Coffee & Treats
13 Crown Street (Corner Crown & Harbour Streets)
WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
Tel. 02 4227 3888

OPENING HOURS

Mon – Thurs 7.15am to 6pm
Friday 7.15am to 10pm
Sat 8.30am to 10pm
Sun 8.30am to 6pm

Sugar Cube Belgium Waffles, Wollongong

More Illawarra Food and Restaurant Reviews at http://illawarrafoodreviews.blogspot.com

Photography by Vanessa Pike-Russell
http://www.vanessapikerussell.com.au