Melinda's Gluten-Free Chocolate Fudge Brownies

I was shopping for Country Life Gluten-Free bread in Woolworths Warilla Grove when I spotted this pretty pink box of ' Melinda's Gluten-free Goodies: Heavenly Chocolate Fudge Brownie' mix.  Intrigued, I turned to look at the back of the box and saw that it had a packet of mix plus a packet of chocolate that you melt with some butter and stir into the mixture along with two beaten eggs. Even better, I saw that there was a 2 for 1 sale on all Melinda's products. Sweet! I purchased a box of the Chocolate Fudge Brownie and another box of Lemon Slice that looked nice. How had I not heard of these before?

I decided to treat myself and make up some brownies and warm up my kitchen on this chilly Winter Sunday with temperatures in the single figures. I had a helping hand in mixing and tasting, Master Levi, almost three. He loved pouring the chocolate pieces into the bowl and measuring out the butter until the scales said 120g. A master button-presser he helped as we melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave and then watched as I stirred it until we had made a delicious chocolate that he couldn't help but sample before it was poured into the cake mix. He then helped crack the two eggs and whisk them up with a fork. Everything was stirred in together and then poured into muffin tins and put into the oven on 200oF for 30 minutes.

The recipe on the box asked for a square tin but he was determined that we use the muffin pans that he then helped to butter. The result is a cross between a fudge brownie and muffin that had the benefit of delicious gooey soft centre and lovely crust outside. Win-win! I have to say that they are hands-down my favourite gluten-free sweet treat so far. You would not know that they were wheat-free, dairy-free and I can honestly say that they are so delicious they would delight even the most fussy eater. I love eating cakes and brownies when they are warm out of the oven. There is nothing like it. I have to be careful to stick to a sensible portion which the muffin tray with six fudge brownie muffins made easy.

When I showed my husband the Gluten-free brownie mix earlier in the week he gave me a 'that's nice, dear' type comment and didn't share my excitement - until today when  he came back from shopping and tried one.  I could hear the same moans of enjoyment and he quickly poured some cream onto a plate and yummied one portion up in record time.

One of the muffins was only half-filled in an experiment to see how it affected the cooking flavour. As you would expect it cooked a lot faster and turned into a crunchy and delicious fudge brownie cookie that we fought over and dipped into the last of the cream. YUMMM!

Chocolate Fudge Brownies

The Chocolate Fudge Brownie is a heavenly mix of the finest ingredients including fair trade Dutch cocoa and specially sourced lactose-free chocolate. Quick and easy to prepare, only add 2 eggs or egg substitute and some butter or margarine for a delicious treat.

           Gluten-free
           Wheat-free
           Yeast-free
           Lactose-free option
           Egg-free option

 

Creative Variations

Sprinkle 100g of chopped milk Toblerone™ over brownie mixture before baking. Bake for 35 minutes. Sprinkle with icing sugar or drizzle with melted white chocolate.

Ingredient List

Dark chocolate (23%) (sugar, vegetable oil, cocoa powder, emulsifier (soy lecithin, 492), flavours, Cocoa solid (12%)), gluten-free self-raising flour (maize starch, tapioca starch, soy flour, rice flour, raising agents (575, 501, 500)), brown sugar and cocoa powder.

Allergen warning

May contain traces of nuts as this product is packed on the same machine as other products. Machine is cleaned after other products packed but we cannot guarantee our product is 100% nut free.
The choc pieces are dairy-free however produced in a factory that contains other dairy products so must be labeled lactose-free. We have tested our product and they have tested as dairy free. However, we cannot guarantee our product is 100% dairy free.

	AVG QTY PER SERVING	AVG QTY PER 100g

ENERGY	764kJ	1910kJ
PROTEIN	2.68g	6.7g
FAT, total	6.2g	15.5g
- saturated	5.24g	13.1g
CARBOHYDRATE	28.76g	71.9g
- sugars	8.24g	20.6g
SODIUM	52mg	130mg
GLUTEN	None detectable	None detectable

Now that I have looked online I can see there is an extensive range of Melinda's products for me to experience. Look out for them in Woolworths and take advantage of the special price of two boxes for $10 whilst it lasts. Trust me - $5 for five portions of the best gluten-free brownies is great value!




http://www.glutenfreegoodies.com.au/

Mango and Coconute Cake - Gluten Free from The Great Outdoors TV show

A wonderful Gluten Free cake from Better Homes and Gardens show that aired tonight

Ingredients:

Arrowroot flour
Desiccated coconut
Gluten Free flour
3/4 cup of pureed Mango
Coconut cream
200g Margarine
2 cups Sugar
Juice of a lime
5 Eggs
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
1/2 cup arrowroot
1 tspn bicarbonate of soda
2 1/2 cups of gluten free flour
1 cup orange and mango juice
1/2 cup of caster sugar (for syrup)
2 cups caster sugar (for glaze)

1. Scoup the flesh from a ripe mango and puree. You'll need about  3/4 of a cup of puree
   
2. 200g margarine and 2 cups of sugar. Beat until light and creamy
3. Add wet ingredients of Coconut cream, juice of a lime and 5 eggs. Beat it thoroughly.
4. Fold in more dry ingredients - 1/2 cup desiccated coconut, 1/2 cup arrowroot, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, 2 1/2 cups of gluten free flour. Stir together gently.
   
5. Stir in your mango puree and pour the cake mixture into a lined ring mould. Spoon any leftover mixture into muffin pans.
6. Bake for 170 degrees 40-50 minutes
7. Syrup is made by mixing one cup of orange and mango juice to half a cup of caster sugar. Bring to boil. Make sure it is nice and thick  The sugar is poured over the cake when it is hot. The glaze to decorate when it is cold.
   
8. For the glaze mix 2 cups of icing sugar with just enough orange and mango juice to make it turn.
9. Whilst the cake is still hot pour the syrup over it as it is most absorbent at this stage. Invert on a cake stand and allow to cool.
10. Once cool decorate with glaze, coconut and mango.
    

Sounds delicious!

Laucke Easy Bake Gluten-Free Meals & Grains bread mix

There is nothing better than home cooked bread. I just love getting it out of the oven and tasting some whilst it is still warm. Heaven! So when I visited Woolworths and found the Laucke Easy Bake Gluten-Free Meals & Grains bread mix I was really excited.


The packet weighs 1kg and includes two bags of 500 grams mix. Since I only have small loaf pans I decide to divide the mixture up and make half a batch. It came out to almost two level cups of bread mix to which I added 180ml of water at room temperature

And this is the result!

One of the best tasting breads I've ever eaten, gluten free or packed full of gluten. Next time I will use a larger bread tin and leave it to rise more but what it lacked in height it made up for in taste. I loved the kibbled corn and the addition of sesame seeds (not in the pack) really added to the texture of the bread. I have enough for three more small loafs or one and a half large one.


The only negative is that I can't stop myself from eating it! This bread is so nice to eat you'll have to hide it from yourself.

Illawarra Gluten Free

Welcome to Illawarra Gluten Free.

A directory of Gluten free products,
stores and online shopping catering

to people from the Illawarra.

Who am I?

My name is Vanessa Pike-Russell and I started this blog after realising that my IBD symptoms all stemmed from being intolerant of wheat and gluten. I was born with an under-developed pituitary gland (hypo-pituitism) and recently learned that it is common for the stomach to not develop fully and thus unable to process gluten properly. I would suffer from stomach pains, bloating, cramps and lethagy until I went on a low-carb diet in 2002.

When it was suggested that I might be sensitive to wheat I did some research and since then I have all but removed the symptoms unless I eat the wrong foods. It is hard to remember that there is so much wheat and gluten in all manner of products and not just breads and pasta.

I started researching gluten-free products and culling wheat-laden foods from my diet. When I slip up I pay for it - literally. Pretty soon I had an extensive library of recipes and links to online resources and decided that with all the research I was doing it would be best if I archived it and shared with others in the same plight.

I am no stranger to keeping a foodie blog, starting 2002 and active in the Livejournal Food communities before moving to Illawarra Food Reviews on Blogger in 2005.  I come from a long line of foodies and wanted to journal as much of my travels around Tasmania as possible share with friends and family. I decided to continue the tradition of photographing and journalling my gastronomic journeys when returning to live in Wollongong in 2002. In the past few years I had noticed a significant cause and effect between foods eaten and symptoms labeled as IBS which have now almost disappeared once I cut wheat and gluten out of my diet.  You can read my story about discovering my wheat sensitivity here.

I have provided an index of directories: books, flours, product outlets, recipes etc to get you started.

Why Illawarra Gluten Free?

I chose to focus on the Illawarra area because that is where I live - between the Mountains and the sea. From South of Sydney down to Far South Coast of New South Wales. The definition of the Illawarra differs depending on the sources you read but in general it consists of three cities:

Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and also loosely includes the 'South Coast' including areas such as Berry, Nowra and Kangaroo Valley

Illawarra Restaurants with Gluten Free Items

• Berry Hotel
• Bulli:The Cliffhanger
• Fairy Meadow: Zweefers Divine Cakes & Cafe
• Figtree Gourmet Kitchen
  
• Kiama - Cafe Parkview
• Kiama Ritzy Gritz New Mexican Grill
• Kiama: Out Of The Blue Cafe
• Kiama: Short Black Coffee cafe 88
• Robertson: Pizzas in the Mist
• Shellharbour Country Kitchen Cafe
• Shellharbour: Angelinas
• Shellharbour: Chillis
• Shellharbour: Ocean Beach Hotel
• Shellharbour: Relish on Addison
• Wollongong Cino Caffe
• Wollongong: Crust Gourmet Pizzas 
• Wollongong: Culinarius by Monika
• Wollongong: Lee and Me - Gallery, Cafe and Fashion

Know of a Gluten-Free Brand, Product, Food store, Cafe or Restaurant that isn't listed? Please contact me at illawarrafood@gmail.com and I will update our articles, links and tags.

Gluten Free Recipe Directory

Gluten free recipes

• Gluten free recipes on ABC
• Gluten free recipes on Orgran
• Nu-Vit Health Foods recipes
• Pastry - Gluten Free Pastry 1
• Pastry - Gluten Free Pastry 2
• Peanut - Peanut butter cookies

Recipes by Select Health Foods

Almond Recipes
Barley Flour Recipes
Barley Recipes
Besan Flour Recipes
Bread Machine Recipes
Bread Recipes
Brown Rice Flour Recipes
Buckwheat Flour Recipes
Carob Recipes
Chickpea Recipes
Cornflour/Cornmeal Recipes
Flour Recipes
Four Substitute Recipes
Glucose Syrup Recipes
Millet Recipes
Polenta Recipes
Potato Flour Recipes
Rice Flour Recipes
Rice Recipes
Rice Syrup Recipes
Semolina Recipes
Soya Bean Recipes
Soya Flour Recipes
Tahini Recipes
Wheat and Gluten Free Recipes

Gluten Free Brands

• Berihurikari Gluten-Free Curries
  
• Biogenic Cold Pressed Oils
• Changs Gluten Free Asian products
• Choices Gluten Free
• Dare to be Different Cakes
  
• Dr. Schar Gluten Free Biscuits
• Dr. Schar Gluten Free Bread
• Dr. Schar Gluten Free Flour
• Dr. Schar Gluten Free Pasta
• Dr. Schar Gluten Free Snacks
• Empower Foods Gluten Free Wraps
• Empower Foods Muffin Mixes
• Empower Foods Sugar Free Low Carb Chocolate
• Eskal Pretzels at Trialia Foods
• Eskal Pretzels at Woolworths
• Feast Fiesta Hampers with Gluten-Free options
  
• Goodman Gluten Free Flours
• Licorice Land Gluten Free licorice
• Lowan Whole Foods
• Natures First Quinoa Grains
• Nu Vit Health Foods
• Nu-Vit Gluten Free Linseed @ Woolies
• Nu-Vit Gluten Free Muesli @ Woolies
• Orgram Buckwheat Pancake Mix
• Orgran Natural Foods
• Select Foods - Cold Pressed Oils
• Select Foods Almond Kernals and Meal
• Select Foods Amaranth Breakfast Cereal
• Select Foods Arrowroot
• Select Foods Besan Flour
• Select Foods Buckwheat Flour
• Select Foods Carob Powder and Whirls
• Triala Foods Gluten Free
• Wallaby Bars and Treats
• Wallaby Macadamia Butter
• Wallaby Macadamia Oil
• Wild Bite
• Woolworths Freedom foods

10 Must-have Gluten Free books

Since my first days researching gluten-free alternatives I've found a lot of information online but it can be overwhelming. It helps to have access to some great books which help to break things down into simple to understand information and some great recipes. Here are some of my favourite books. Some of them are available in the Shellharbour, Kiama and Wollongong City libraries. If your library doesn't stock the book you want you can fill out a card and request they order them in. You will then be notified when the image is available for loan.

My favourite book at the moment is:

Is it Gluten-Free? An A-Z of Things Gluten-Free.(Book review): An article from: Nutrition & Dietetics: The Journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia by Kim Faulkner-Hogg
Buy new: $9.95

I believe in the KISS method - Keep It Simple, Stupid - and with this book it helps to simplify things and give you a framework to build upon with further research. A great book to share with someone new to the gluten-free lifestyle or for a family member who has no idea why you'd want to reduce gluten from your diet or what are the hidden gluten ingredients in everyday cooking.

Another favourite is Living Gluten-Free for DUMMIES. Practical, delicious ways to manage a gluten-free diet. Much like the above book, it helps to have information presented in a simple and concise manner so that you can 'say goodbye to gluten and say hello to good health'.

	Living Gluten-Free For Dummies (For Dummies (Health & Fitness)) by Danna Korn Buy new: $13.59 / Used from: $7.98 Usually ships in 24 hours
Cover of Gluten-Free Baking Classics	Gluten-Free Baking Classics by Annalise G. Roberts Buy new: $12.21 / Used from: $10.32 Usually ships in 24 hours
Cover via Amazon	Gluten-Free Quick & Easy: From Prep to Plate Without the Fuss - 200+ Recipes for People with Food Sensitivities by Carol Fenster Buy new: $12.89 / Used from: $10.50 Usually ships in 24 hours
	The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide by Elisabeth Hasselbeck Buy new: $16.49 / Used from: $13.92 Usually ships in 24 hours
	The Gluten-Free Vegan: 150 Delicious Gluten-Free, Animal-Free Recipes by Susan O'Brien Buy new: $13.22 / Used from: $9.76 Usually ships in 24 hours
Cover of 1,000 Gluten-Free Recipes	1,000 Gluten-Free Recipes by Carol Fenster Buy new: $23.10 / Used from: $19.51 Usually ships in 24 hours
Cover via Amazon	The Gluten-Free Gourmet Cooks Comfort Foods: Creating Old Favorites with the New Flours by Bette Hagman Buy new: $12.92 / Used from: $7.56 Usually ships in 24 hours
	Gluten-Free Girl: How I Found the Food That Loves Me Back...And How You Can Too by Shauna James Ahern Buy new: $10.17 / Used from: $10.11 Usually ships in 24 hours
	You Won't Believe It's Gluten-Free!: 500 Delicious, Foolproof Recipes for Healthy Living by Roben Ryberg Buy new: $17.12 / Used from: $11.85 Usually ships in 24 hours

If you know of a book on gluten-free diet please leave a comment with a short blurb and I'll add your review to the site with credit.

Gluten Free Cornbread

A few weeks ago I made some amazing cornbread with some yellow polenta I purchased from an Italian Delicatessan & Cafe in Warrawong, NSW. The bread was so light and fluffy that we went through two loafs in no time. It is delicious hot or cold and the older the loaf got the more tasty it was, the texture changing to a crusty bread with a really unusual texture from the polenta flour in the mixture. This recipe makes two loaf pans and it freezes well.

1 cup gluten free flour (I used white maize meal but you could use one of a number of gluten-free flours listed)
1 cup yellow polenta
1/4c sugar or alternative (the first time I used raw sugar and the second I used agave syrup which has lower GI and tastes great)
2tsp cream of tartar
1tsp baking soda
1tsp cornflour
3/4tsp salt
1/4cup butter (or coconut oil)
2 eggs (or Orgran Egg Substitute)
1 cup buttermilk (or rice milk for dairy-free)

Combine and fill two loaf pans and bake @ 220oC for 25 min

Other variations found on the web include:

Green Chilli Cornbread Recipe
Chilli & Cheese Cornbread (with Polenta) Recipe

Note: To make this recipe gluten free it is important to use baking soda, cream of tartar and cornflour rather than baking powder.
Read more information below

How to make homemade gluten free baking powder
http://www.blisstree.com/bakingdelights/how-to-make-homemade-gluten-free-baking-powder/

Different between baking soda and baking powder
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/foodchemistry/f/blbaking.htm

Gluten Free Eating Directory of Australia

After my previous efforts to find Gluten Free items I am happy to share that there is a directory of Gluten Free Eating in Australia.

Welcome to the Gluten Free Eating Directory … a comprehensive gluten free guide dedicated to making gluten free eating easier across Australia! Our established free-to-use website provides detailed information about restaurants, cafes, takeaways, shopping outlets, products, manufacturers, gluten free online shops, services, publications and ‘eat’n’stay’ options that cater for gluten free diets. So if you have coeliac disease, gluten intolerance, dermatitis herpetiformis, or just prefer not to eat gluten, this site is for you.

http://www.glutenfreeeatingdirectory.com.au/online_shopping.php

Unfortunately there are no Illawarra restaurants or cafes added to the NSW map search but I hope that we can change that. If you have seen the words 'gluten free' on a menu near you, please let me know or contact the Gluten Free Directory directly. Many hands make light work and here's hoping the Illawarra restaurants and cafes will make it easier to find gluten free eats!

After a little research (and some help from @sejtraav ) I can confirm some gluten free action at Lee and Me in Crown St, Wollongong and at Beachouse Restaurant, Wollongong harbour. More to be added to http://illawarraglutenfree.blogspot.com


Gluten Free Eating Directory
For all enquiries, including feedback about our site, please contact:
Email: enquiries@glutenfreeeatingdirectory.com.au
Phone: (03) 5443 7777
Mobile: 0400 558 741

Update: I just heard from the lovely people from Gluten Free Eating Directory and there are two businesses listed in the south coast area



Gluten Free Options
Range of gluten free food hamper bags
Convenient, easy and deluxe gluten free catering option

http://www.glutenfreeeatingdirectory.com.au/view.php?business=335

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Available From
Orders can be placed directly with Berihurikari (see contact details above). Curry choices and prices are available on the Berihurikari website (click link on this page)
Deliveries are made to NSW Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Sydney suburbs. See website for details or contact Berihurikari direct
Berry Markets (1st Sunday of the month)
Kiama Produce Market (4th Saturday of the month)
Bowral Produce Market (2nd Saturday of the month)
Wollongong Mall Markets at Crown Central (every Friday)
Major events at Homebush stadium (from the food vendor area outside the stadium)
Various retail outlets including Manuka Fine Food Store (Canberra), Green Poppy (Shellharbour), Jamberoo General Store (Jamberoo), Kangaroo Valley Supermarket (Kangaroo Valley), Mangerton Convenience Store (Mangerton), Keiraville Fine Cuisine (Wollongong), Emporium (Berry)

More information:
http://www.glutenfreeeatingdirectory.com.au/view_manufacturer.php?business=76

--
Update: GFED now lists several Illawarra, South Coast and Sydney dining venues as well as products, manufacturers, online shops and publications. If you know of any great gluten-free dining restaurants, cafes or products please let them know and that company will be invited to be a member of the site. Recent additions include:

• Country Kitchen - Shellharbour, New South Wales
• Bombora Seafood - Wollongong, New South Wales
• Zweefers Divine Cakes - Fairy Meadow (Wollongong), New South Wales

Empower low carb and gluten free products

This weekend past I had the pleasure of trying the Empower Triple Choc Muffins that our friend Michael brought over for me to make with his daughter Siobhan who just loves baking and being helpful. When the muffins were cooking everyone was looking forward to sampling them, the aroma so heavenly we chanced burning our fingers to have a taste just moments from the oven. Delicious!



Today I decided to visit the website on the box ( http://www.empowerfoods.com.au ) and found a vast array of low carb and gluten free foods which I can see will be firm favourites.

FibreX Breakfast Cereal Now there's more to a low carb breakfast than just bacon and eggs..

Gluten Free Muffin Magic Mix What’s so magical about Empower’s Muffin Magic Gluten Free Muffin Mix? In a word… VARIETY!

Gluten Free Triple Choc Muffin Mix Finally, a rich, moist and truly decadent gluten free chocolate muffin the whole family can enjoy...

Gluten Free Chocolate Mud Cake Mix Empower’s super indulgent gluten free chocolate mud cake is so amazingly rich and moist you won’t believe it is gluten free.

Almond Innocence Cookie Mix Your guilt free snack between meals…

Chocolate Rush Muffin Mix For a lo-carb snack on the run…

LC Tomato Sauce A rich, home-style flavoured tomato sauce...without all the added sugar!

LC Sweet & Sour Sauce For those of us that crave something a little sweeter, LC Sweet & Sour Sauce is the perfect choice.

LC Satay Sauce LC Satay Sauce adds a rich peanut flavour to all your favourite recipes.

Premium Creamy Dark Chocolate A deliciously rich and creamy dark chocolate - high in antioxidants and sugar-free!

Premium Creamy Milk Chocolate A beautifully creamy, Belgium-style chocolate that just melts in your mouth. Now that really is low carb living made TASTY!

Golden Wholemeal Lo-Carb Bakery Mix Who says you can't eat BREAD and PIZZA on a low carb diet?

Gluten Free Wraps Ask anyone on a gluten free diet what they miss the most, and chances are they will say “convenience...”

They also provide a mail order service and postage is free on orders over $50.

Empower Foods
ABN 77 096 558 235

• 65 Industrial Drive
  Braeside Vic 3195, Vic 3195
• ph: (03) 9588 0311
• fax: (03) 9588 0821
• 
  Email us