Last time we came to USA discovered Chipolte and love it as everything except the flour tortillas are gluten free. My favourite is the crispy tacos with shredded beef, salsa and guacamole. Check out their website here.

A great gluten free brand in USA is Udi’s. Had some choc chip gluten free cookies with vanilla bean ice cream. Also found in the supermarket the gluten free granola with certified gluten free oats. Check out their website here.

Arrived in USA so will be blogging on my gluten free adventures. Flights to USA on Qantas and United Airlines had gluten free meals. Qantas even offers Wallaby super bars on the flights as snacks to all passengers. Check out the Wallaby website here.

On arrival in LA headed to Starbucks to get myself a Caramel Machiato and glad to see Starbucks offers gluten free snack bars made by Kind, check out the website here.

Made the Vitarium gluten free fruit cake on the weekend.   Was easy to mix and bake in a loaf tin.   It has been cold and wintery so served it warm with delicious homemade  Thermomix custard.   Fruit cake was moist and rich and had good flavour.   I quite enjoyed it even though not a huge fan of fruit cake even when could eat gluten.    Check out the Vitarium product range here.   Might have to find where can buy the crumpet mix as they look delicious!

I sampled a Silly Yak gluten free chicken, leek and mushroom pie for dinner tonight.   It heated up from frozen very well nice browned top complete with poppy seeds.   The pastry is delicious with good texture and tasted.   The filling was also tasty with lots of chicken.   I am not usually a pie fan but this one is an exception!   Had it with a side salad and it made for an easy dinner when I don’t feel like cooking!   Check out Silly Yak website here and hopefully local store Rusticana might be stocking this product soon.

Silly Yak Pie!

I went into local produce store Rusticana today, check out the website here and was very excited as they have Bob’s Red Mill products in stock!   When I was diagnosed with Coeliac over 2 years ago Aubrey and I travelled to USA to spend time with his parents.   I discovered Bob’s Red Mill flours there and Nancy made me lots of gluten free goodies using the flours.   I also ate the uncontaminated wheat free oats which of course there is controversy over whether Coeliacs can tolerate oats or not.   It is hard to get uncontaminated oats in Australia and even then Coeliacs should take care as some still can not tolerate oats even if gluten free.   Check out the Bob’s Red Mill product range here.

GF rolled oats

Bought Melinda’s Choc Fudge Brownie mix as well as 20% off with Coeliac Society card at Coles, check out website here.   Made the brownie mix and as suggested sprinkled some chopped Toblerone on top of the mix before baking and bake for 35 minutes.  Tasted delicious with crunch bits and soft fudge like centre.

Choc Brownies!

Wintery weather today so made some Apple Crumbles Melinda’s mix, check it out here.   I followed the recipe on the back of the pack but added some sultanas in with the fruit mix.   I then added some ground up almonds and pecans to the crumble mix and topped it with some pecans.   Served up with some Thermomix creme patisserie (custard) made with 4 eggs and lemon zest for flavour and colour.

Apple & Rhubarb Pecan Crumbles

Wafflicious!

I have been craving waffles since read the Well & Good post that told me can use their muffin mix to make waffles.   Think the craving also brought on by the fact that it is only 4 weeks till we fly to America for a 2 week holiday to spend time with Aubrey’s parents, so craving Hershey’s and waffles.   Went out and bought a waffle maker and also Well & Good muffin mix from Tastefully Yours.   Check out Well & Good website here.

Ingredients
1 pack of Well & Good Muffin mix (450g)
3 eggs
4 tablespoons melted margarine
2 tablespoons honey
310ml water

Method
Mix all ingredients with wooden spoon until smooth.
Rest 10 minutes.
Spoon 1/2 cup batter into waffle iron and cook 3-5 minutes on high setting until golden.

For choc waffles add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the mix.
Serve with berry couli or maple syrup and ice cream.

Cold weather means hearty soups and my favourite is minestrone.   This is my first time trying minestrone in the Thermomix.   I substituted rice for pasta shells and it came out like a risotto, delicious with some shaved parmesan and toasted gluten free sour dough bread.

Gluten Free Minestrone with Rice

Ingredients:

Handful Italian Parsely
Handful Basil
1 Onion peeled & quartered
3 cloves of Garlic
50g Olive Oil
400g diced Mushrooms, Celery, Zucchini & Carrot
400g tin diced Tomatoes
400g soaked Italian soup mix (beans & lentils)
1 Massell vegetable stock cube
750g water
50g Tomato paste
1 tablespoon raw sugar
Pinch of sea salt
130g Arborio rice

Method

Place parsley and basil into TM bowl and chop for 3 seconds on speed 7, set aside. Place onion, garlic and olive oil into TM bowl and chop for 4 seconds on speed 6. Saute for 5 minutes at Varoma temperature on speed 1. Add all remaining ingredients except rice and cook for 15 minutes at 100 degrees celsius on Reverse + speed soft. Add rice and cook for a further 10 minutes at 100 degrees celsius on Reverse + speed soft. Put into Thermo server when cooked.   Serve with shaved parmesan.