Using Turban Chopsticks green curry paste which is gluten free I made a chicken curry with basmati rice. Just add 1/2 jar of the paste with some coconut milk and 1 cup of water with some stir fried chicken and chopped capsicum, brocollini, baby corn and snow peas. Served with a dollop of low fat Greek yoghurt. Visit Turban Chopsticks for more gluten free products and some great recipes. I love the Royal Festival Biryani Rice as well for a quick meal just add some chicken.

Nic from my work place who is a great cook, brought us all in some delicious and moist orange cakes. Perfect with a short black for morning tea. It came from Belinda Jeffries “Mix & Bake”.

Classic Flourless Orange & Almond Cake

2 large navel oranges
250g almond meal
250g castor sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 eggs
icing sugar or apricot glaze

1. Place oranges in saucepan of boiling water and boil for 2 hours until soft. Drain and leave to cool. Once cool chop and puree finely in food processor.

2. Preheat oven to 170 deg C. Prepare cake pan or line muffin tins.

3. In a bowl use whisk to mix together almond meal, sugar and baking powder.

4. Put the eggs in a bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Add the orange puree and almond mix and mix on low speed. Pour batter into tin or muffin tray.

5. Bake for about 1 hour or less for muffins, until cake firm on top. Cool cake or muffins. Either dust with icing sugar or make a apricot glaze with apricot jam or conserve.

Report on ABC news today that researchers are closer to finding a cure for coeliac disease:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/22/2960937.htm

I would welcome a cure but also quite happy to be gluten free! At times it is difficult. At work event the other evening my gluten free frittata arrived buried under the breaded and pastry products on the same platter! Then I wish I could eat gluten so don’t have to go hungry or eat an emergency GF muesli and nut bar from my bag.

I have been eating Brookfarm Macadamia Muesli since I was diagnosed and love it but I find it best more as a sprinkle on top of my fruit and yoghurt. Yesterday tried out a new muesli from Tastefully Yours – Flip Shelton’s GF Natural Muesli. This muesli is great to have as a cereal with milk as stays nice and crunchy. I also like the Real Good Foods GF Bircher muesli as can soak this in some natural yoghurt and serve with fruit.

Was very pleased to discover Simply Thai that can modify most dishes to be gluten free with tamari instead of soy sauce and rice noodles. We had Pad Thai, Mussaman and steamed rice. Very tasty and they do take away and a lunch menu.

Made a spur of the moment trip to Perth today to go to the opening day of the Perth Apple store and visit the Crumpler store to get a new bag to fit my iPad. Couldn’t make a trip to Perth without a visit to Jus Burgers in Leederville. They make the best burgers and even better can make them gluten free. The burgers, most sauces and the hand cut chips are gluten free. Today my burger was not the best one had there as the Bodhi Bakery buns they use can tend to fall apart but still tasted delicious. The vibe is also very relaxed and funky.

I joined Kaye and other Coeliac Society members for a morning tea at Mojo’s today. Mojo’s had lots of gluten free cakes and biscuits to choose from. It was great to catch up and I was lucky enough to win a new cookbook in the raffle. In the afternoon awareness session at Milligan House which confirmed my knowledge. I discovered a new product from Creative Gourmet – gluten free frozen crepes – in the freezer section of Coles. Will try them with salmon and creme fraiche on the weekend. I hope to organise more GF eating out events in the future now I am the Bunbury contact for the Coeliac Society.

I have tried lots of different gluten free breads and my favourite commercially available bread is from Bodhis Bakehouse. That said the best bread is the one I bake myself using Sunbeam Quantum Smartbake with gluten free cycle. Tastefully Yours sell the breadmaker and all the supplies to make the bread.

Ingredients
500ml warm water
3 x free range eggs
1/2 cup oil (olive, grapeseed or chia)
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup besan (chick pea) flour
2 cups white rice flour
1 cup arrowroot
3 tablespoons grain (chia, pepitas, sunflower seeds)
1 tablespoon xantham gum
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
2 teaspoons yeast

Method
1. Place ingredients in bread pan in order listed
2. Place bread pan into breadmaker
3. Choose gluten free cycle, dark crust and 1kg loaf size option
4. Press start

The bread takes about 2.5 hours to bake and smells delicious like any bread baking. It needs some time to cool before slicing but is great fresh. After the first day bread is best toasted or freeze individual slices for later use.

Had a wonderfully relaxing and inspiring day doing Dru Yoga and meditation with Sarah from High Aspirations. The food for lunch was tasty, healthy & some gluten free. I find yoga helps my digestion by making me less stressed and anxious. Visit Dru Yoga here.

I bought a copy of book Changing Habit, Changing Lives cookbook by Cyndi O’Meara which reminded me that going gluten free is easy if we look to wholefoods and organic produce. The cookbook has healthy recipes and gluten free substitutes. Visit Changing Habits here.

Took my iPad for coffee and cake at Fez. Caf-Fez is my favourite cafe because of the excellent Yahava coffee and Bannister Downs milk. They also have a good gluten free selection including cakes and bread. Today we also had GF nachos with chicken which were very yummy weekend treat.