I also had the chance to sample some of the Freelicious range of crackers recently including the Italian Herb, Original as well as the Crostini and Rosemary breadsticks.   The breadsticks were good addition to a dip and vegie stick platter though I found them a little hard.   The crackers as well were good with dips but a little dry if eaten alone or with hard cheese.   The Crostini would be good with cream cheese and toppings as a starter or finger food at a party.   Probably my favourite in the Freelicious range is the Corn Couscous.   I love couscous but of course it is made from wheat.   I have tried making a salad with quinoa instead however I am not a fan of the bitter after taste.   Last night for dinner had some steamed Tasmania salmon fillets with lime juice and cracked pepper and served with the Corn Couscous salad.   I followed the recipe on the back of the packet and topped it with some delicious goat’s cheese, cherry tomatoes and avocado.   Check out the Freelicious website here.

I will admit it I am a bit of a gluten free bread snob.   I am not a fan of most commercially available gluten free bread as most as white and bland.   When I could or did eat bread I always ate rye bread or grainy bread not white sliced bread.   I still think the Deek’s bakery quinoa loaf if the best bread have found but it is expensive and not easy to source.   So I was pleasantly surprised to sample the new Lifestyle Bakery range and particularly like the Chia & Quinoa bread and the Soy & Linseed is good as well.   Both breads are still best toasted in my opinion but on the day the bread arrived the Chia & Quinoa was good fresh with some Nuttlex on it.   The Lifestyle Bakery range is available at Woolworths and IGA – check out the website here.

Hope you are all having a lovely gluten free Christmas wherever in the world you are.   Here it is very hot, getting up to 36 degrees celsius so while I have a lovely gluten free hamper with cake, pudding and brandy butter I don’t feel much like eating it!   Might just stick to fresh fruit and nuts – love the cherries and berries in season at Christmas!   I got this gluten free Christmas hamper from Innovations catalogue that my Mum saw, find the link here.   The shortbread biscuits were OK though a little hard and the cake a bit crumbly so overall would not buy again as not really a big fan of these products when I did eat gluten.   Whatever gluten free food you have today I hope is it delicious!

We took a drive out to the Ferguson Valley yesterday to stock up on some wine for the holidays.   First stop was Bonking Frog wines to buy some Summer Merlot to make some summer sangria – click here for the website.   Then onto lunch at the Moody Cow Brewery, of course cannot drink the beer but they have wine on the menu and gluten free meals.   I had tasty pan fried salmon with grilled prawns and the chef made me some hand cut chips – click here for the website.  Finally finished off the day with some wine tasting at St Aidan’s and coffee and cake.   The Xmas Pudding Baked Cheesecake was delicious and something different to the traditional Xmas Pudding but with all the taste of cinnamon and nutmeg.  Picked up some sparkling chardonnay and rose and head home very full and satisifed  - click here for the website.

Last day of work for 2012 so decided Friday night was pizza night!   Been loving Bianco’s gluten free pizza bases with a range of toppings for a quick and inexpensive dinner out with a BYO bottle of Shiraz!   I had seen the Facebook post for the Xmas pizza and needed to try it.   With the ham and chicken on pesto base with some brie and cranberry sauce it was just the right blend of Xmas tastes!   Get in and try it before Xmas!