Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

• Gluten-free cooking: I was asked a couple of weeks ago about guidelines for cooking without wheat flour. At the time I posted some links and then this week I saw Gluten-Free girl has written a guide to using gluten free flours. * Ethical eating can be a minefield. Full of complex decisions about the value of food miles vs local eating vs fair trade vs organic. It’s hard to shop ethically and still stay within a budget. This week …

Read more 02 November, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

Next in Q & A Thursday, Ann has asked for some guidelines on how to cook with non-wheat flours: bq. I was wondering about substitution of alternative flours – wholemeal spelt, white spelt, amaranth, barley etc – in recipes calling for wholemeal or white flour. Are there any general rules? And are some grains or combinations better substitutes than others for wheat flour? There are more and more people out there avoiding wheat, and fortunately there are now a …

Read more 04 October, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

While it’s becoming a lot easier to eat gluten-free foods and supermarkets stock an ever widening range, it’s certainly not cheaper. In this article from the Sydney Morning Herald, one gastroenterologist estimates it costs $1,000 more per year to eat exclusively gluten-free. It’s interesting to note that gluten-free foods are subsidised in Italy, Finland, England and New Zealand.

Read more 01 September, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

This weekend there’s a gluten free expo in Sydney. Organised by the Coeliac Society of NSW, it’s one of the only Sydney events that’s completely gluten free. You’ll be able to both taste and buy gluten free foods, find out where to shop and get lots of information about excluding gluten from your diet. * Dates: 17 & 18 August 2007 * Venue: Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park * Show hours: Friday 17 August 4pm-8pm and Saturday 18 August 9am-5pm …

Read more 14 August, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

Last question for this week: bq. I’ve just been told to eat a gluten-free diet, but what actually is gluten? I had assumed it just meant I needed to avoid wheat, but now I’ve been told there are a whole lot of other grains I also have to steer clear of – why is this? Gluten is a protein – well technically it’s a mixture of proteins. The gluten in wheat is made up of gliadin and glutenin. It’s found …

Read more 26 July, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

Gluten-free Girl has a post about why going gluten free is not the end of the world. Look at all the beautiful food photos she’s included in her post – they’re all gluten free dishes. Shauna also points to two online quizzes, to check if you might be coeliacs.  Filling out an online quiz won’t give you a definitive diagnosis, but it can give you an idea of whether gluten is a problem or note. The quizes are: the National …

Read more 24 May, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

In August, the Coeliac Society are presenting a Gluten Free Expo: bq. The Gluten Free Expo is the only Sydney event presented by The Coeliac Society and is the only Sydney event that showcases exclusively gluten free products. You can be assured of a completely gluten free environment! . . . Come and sample the latest gluten free foods. All manner of gluten free products will be available for you to purchase. Dates: Friday 17th&Saturday 18th August 2007 Location: Sydney …

Read more 01 May, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

While the photo is not brilliant, these were really good – little bite sized morsels packed full of flavour. At one point I thought there was going to be a fight over the last three – good manners won out in the end, but there was a fair bit of “well I’ve only had one, how many have you had?” going on. While fights can spoil the mood of any dinner party, it is lovely when your guests enjoy …

Read more 29 December, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

A reader has just told me about the website menulog.com.au , which covers restaurants in Australia. The really nifty thing is you can search on dietary needs, for example you can find restaurants with gluten-free options in Sydney, vegan restaurants in Melbourne, or kosher places in Newcastle&the Hunter Valley. What a useful tool and thanks to Rachel for pointing me in their direction. Of course if you’re looking for vegetarian and vegan places, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, you can …

Read more 17 November, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

I’ve just found out from a gluten-intolerant friend, that the first gluten-free beer is now available in Australia.  It’s called O’Brien’s and is brewed by a gentleman called John O’Brien, who was himself diagnosed with coeliac’s in 1998. They make four varieties – lager, brown ale, pale ale and a light.  While O’Brien’s is not yet widely available, in Sydney can be found at * Blacktown Cellarbrations – 9621 2849 * Midway Cellars (Denistone East) – 9888 1354 * Duke …

Read more 10 November, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

Celeriacs are funny, knobbly looking vegetables. While they’re the same species as normal celery, they are bred produce a large stem base – which is the part you eat. Celeriac has a milder and slightly sweeter flavour, which makes it quite different from standard celery. It’s also a very flexible vegetable and can be used both cooked and raw in salads. Celeriac can be baked with other vegetables, made into soups and is often mashed in with potatoes. The …

Read more 03 November, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

I’ve been cooking a lot with split peas over the last two weeks. While I favour split mung beans when making dal, Richard always uses split yellow peas. Some time ago he went through a dal-making craze and and we ended up with a cupboard full of the little critters. Trouble is, I’m not a huge fan, so two large jars of yellow split peas have been stuck at the back of the cupboard for quite some time now. I …

Read more 02 November, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

As I’ve said before , mid-week I love a one-pot meal. To be able to make a healthy, quick meal and only dirty one saucepan, is a good thing. Which makes risotto a good option – everything goes in together, to make a beautiful rich and creamy textured meal. However, for me, most risotto recipes just don’t include enough vegies. One way round this is to serve it with a salad, but sometimes I just want one bowl of steaming …

Read more 29 September, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

Australian bush foods are always something that have intrigued me, but I’ve never really known what to do with them. This month’s Spice is Right is about using a locally grown spice in combination with fresh and local produce, in a dish that reflects the flavours of home. This month I was in the mood for experimenting and thought it was time to try out something new – a native spice. Many of the bush foods and spices are unique …

Read more 16 August, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

A few posts ago I promised a recipe for home-made potato wedges. I make these a lot because I love potatoes, they’re super-easy and always work. Moreover, given that most potato wedges and chips are deep fried, these are a good low fat alternative, with only about 2.5g of fat per serving. I always leave the skins on, but you don’t have to. In this recipe I’ve tossed the potatoes in fresh rosemary, but you could use some paprika, or …

Read more 13 August, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

And if you do have a problem with gluten, have a look at one of my favourite blogs: Gluten-Free Girl . Shauna’s blog is one of the most beautifully written that I’ve come across. She’s based in the States, so some of the brands aren’t available here, but her blog is packed full of thoughts, recipes and information about living, cooking and eating gluten free. There are also links to a whole lot of other gluten-free sites and resources.

Read more 26 July, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Gluten-free

Melbourne is having its first ever gluten-free and wheat-free food show – what a great idea! It’s a public Food Expo showcasing only gluten free foods with about 100 exhibitors. Melbourne Exhibition Centre 9.00-5.00pm Saturday 12th August. For more details go to the website: www.coeliac.com.au .

Read more 26 July, 2006