Free From Scones

As it fast approaches winter here in the UK I find myself dreaming of hot scones & bottomless pots of tea.  Here is a recipe that I adapted so Izzie can eat them as well.

Free From Lemonade Scones

3 Cups Self Raising Gluten Free Flour (I used Doves Farm)
50g Dairy Free Butter (I used Pure Margarine)
2 Tbsp of Caster Sugar
1 Cup of Lemonade (Sprite/7Up)
1 Cup of Diary Free Cream (I used Oatly Cream)

Rub butter into flour to form fine crumbs, add remaining ingredients and mix lightly, turn onto floured board & knead lightly. Use your fingers to flatten out to about 5cm high then use a cookie cutter to cut out rounds. Put on a baking tray and brush with dairy free milk. Cook for 15mins or so at 180oC.

Spread with dairy free butter and raspberry jam - Enjoy!!

Yummy Free From Savoury Muffins

Danny is away at the moment so I must be trying to keep busy with baking plus Izzie just loves to "help".....

Creamed Corn & Bacon Free From Muffins

• 6 rashers bacon, diced or could use ham
• ½ spanish onion, diced
• 2 cups Gluten free plain flour
• ½ tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp gluten free baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 egg replacer
• ½ cup diary free milk (I used Oatly)
• 60g diary free butter, melted (I used "Pure" Margarine)
• 300g creamed corn

Preheat oven to 220C. Lightly grease a 12-hole muffin tin with butter or line with paper cups.

Cook the bacon and onion in a frying pan over medium-high heat until crispy. Sift the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl.

In another bowl, combine the egg, milk, butter and creamed corn, and mix well. Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients; the batter should be lumpy. Add the bacon mixture and fold through.

Spoon the batter into the tins and bake for 20 minutes, until the muffins are risen and golden coloured. Set aside for five minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Birthday Free From Jam Sponge Cake

Izzie has her bff birthday party tomorrow. Miss Olivia Wheeler will be 2! She is having a Pepper Pig cake so I am going to try this Doves Farm Sponge Cake recipe so Izzie doesn't feel left out.

• 125g Sugar
• 6 Tbsp Sunflower Oil
• 1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Small Ripe Banana
• 150g Gluten Free Self Raising Flour
• 4 Tbsp Cold Water
• 1 tsp Oil
• 2 Tbsp Jam
• 1 tsp Icing Sugar

1. Preheat oven to 190oC or 170oC Fanbake
2. Lightly oil a 18cm round cake tin
3. In a bowl beat together the sugar, oil & vanilla
4. Peel & mash half the banana then beat into the sugar mixture
5. Add the flour & water & mix well
6. Pour the batter into the prepared tin & smooth top
7. Bake in oven for 30-35 minutes
8. Cool the sponge on a wire rack
9. Cut the sponge in half with a bread knife and spread with jam put top back on and dust with icing sugar

Even tho Izzie is allergic to banana she seemed to be ok with this small amount of highly cooked banana. Banana is used in a lot of recipes instead of egg as a good binding agent.

Izzie adored the cake but next time I would make two sponges and jam them together as it didn't rise as much as expected.

Awesome Free From Pancakes

I came across this egg free pancake recipe from a blog (Art of Dessert) today and adapted it to be also wheat free and dairy free.

Horray they turned out just like proper pancakes. I have popped a few in the freezer as they might be good for quick snacks.

Love that Izzie won't miss out on one of my childhood favourite treats. We used to make pancakes with lemon & sugar on Sunday evenings using juicy fresh lemons from my mums tree's.

2 cups gluten free flour (I used Doves Farm)
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons gluten free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups diary free milk (I used Oatly)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup melted dairy free butter (I used Pure)

Sift together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, oil and orange juice. Slowly add in the melted butter. Pour about 1/2 cup of batter onto a hot nonstick pan. Cook until you see a few bubbles rise to the surface and it's dry around the edges, then flip over to cook the other side until lightly browned. Serve syrup, jam or fresh fruit etc

Allergy Kid

Speaking of allergies, Izzie had her skin prick re-test a few weeks back with Paediatric Allergist
George Du Toit at Guy's & St Thomas' Hospitals.

The test involves putting tiny bits of food or synthetic substitutes on her arm then pricking it with a pin to see if a hive comes up - if a hive does appear it means that she is allergic to the substance. Nurse Linda made it really fun!

Photo's = Mushroom reaction about 9 months (She literally blew up like a mushrooms with hives everywhere including her eye lids & ears!, Skin prick test on her arm & Banana reaction about 21 months.

Izzie's allergy list continues to grow with the addition of apple, banana, pineapple & kiwifruit. I used to get upset that she didn't eat my wonderful apple puree but now I know why!

Currently Allergy List

Peanuts, Cashews, Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Pea's, Wheat, Rye, Spelt, Cow's Milk - Raw, Cow's Milk -Boiled, Raw Egg White, Cooked Egg White, Egg Yolk, Soy, Mushrooms, Blueberries, Watermelon, Tuna, Salmon, Tomato, Grass Pollen Mix, Kiwifruit, Apple, Banana & Pineapple

The doctor advised that people will think I am an overprotective weirdo saying that my daughter has so many allergies. One or two allergies is acceptable & believable but not a shopping list worth : ) Hope she grows out of some soon!

Crazy Cup Cakes

This morning Izzie and I made wheat free, dairy free, egg free chocolate cupcakes. I was a little hesitant due to past baking failures but this recipe had over 200 rave reviews so we dusted off the mixing bowls and got to it.

Izzie enjoyed standing up at the bench measuring and mixing and making a huge mess but the end result was a huge success as you can see from the photo. They were so soft & even rose!

I substituted Doves Farm gluten free flour, Oatly Oat milk instead of the water and an extra scoop of cocoa instead of the chocolate chips. I cooked the cupcakes for 20 mins as this recipe was originally for a cake. What a fab recipe for kids with allergies!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup cold water
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar, cocoa powder, and baking soda. Mix well with a fork, then stir in oil, vinegar, and vanilla extract. When dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened, pour in cold water and stir until batter is smooth. Stir in chocolate chips and pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on a rack

Meat and Wine Steakhouse

Today we went to the Meat and Wine Co. Steakhouse near Westfields for lunch. They were really fantastic with Izzie and gave her the royal treatment with special dishes made especially for her.

http://www.themeatandwineco.com/uk/london/westfield_london/

The waitress warned me against having the full rack of ribs but I easily demolished it and could have gone another thanks to my Uni training days at the Lone Star's "All You Can Eat Rib Tuesdays" YUM!

After lunch we went summer shoe shopping for Izzie - what a Carrie Bradshaw she is!! We are in for a whole world of trouble : )

First Sleep Over

Izzie had a friend to stay for the first time last night. Her name is Georgia and her Mum and Dad were attending a ball where work was putting them up in a hotel after the party (oh how nice!)

It was fun to see them together having a bath, brushing teeth, eating breakfast etc. Izzie was very excited but Georgia naturally was a bit unsure - probably thought what the hell am I doing here?!

Georgia is very well behaved so hopefully some of that will rub off on Miss Izzie who is full of mischief. Getting her dressed is the equivalent of dressing a slippery eel in a large muddy pond

Snowy Cotswold's

"Jack's House" was our home in the beautiful Cotswold's last weekend. We would really recommend it if your ever planning a trip around there. It's in the village of Burton-on-the water which is called the "Venice" of the Cotswold's.

The cottage has been lovingly renovated and is just a few minutes walk to the cute little shops & restaurants.

http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/bourton-on-the-water/71672.

There is a small cake shop on the high street which has the best Caramel Slice (Millionaires Shortbread) I have ever tasted!

We were even lucky enough to wake up to snow two mornings. The little thatched houses were extra cute with a dusting of snow.

Mullets

Izzie came along on my haircut adventure today and was very good - mostly she sat in her pram in shock as scissors snipped, pages turned, cups of tea chinked and hairdressers gossiped .... that was until the hairdresser accidently turned the hot hair dryer on her and it was all over red rover.

The hairdresser ever so politely asked if I would like Izzie's mullet trimmed (it was getting to the point where she was being stopped in the street & asked if she was an Aussie Rules player : ) so up she hopped on my lap like a seasoned pro and 3 snips later she has a little bob. I got to take home 3 pieces of blond hair in an envelope ... aaah my little girl is growing up : ).

Today is pancake day and I made wheat free, dairy free, egg free pancakes - what's left? sugar??!! Needless to say they were disgusting and Izzie refused to eat my teddy shaped creations - don't blame her really : )

3.5 Bambina's

Today we had an excursion to Crystal Palace to see Katie, Rosie, Boy Bump, Scarlett & Amélie.

Rosie will be two next week and Amélie is coming up 5 months already!

Izzie loved playing with all Rosie's toys and we managed to destroy Katie's tidy living room.

I can just imagine these 3 cheeky girls heading up the east coast of Australia in a combie van in 20 years time : )

Tea & Scones

What a day - snow & sun! But very pretty as Lizzie, Izzie, Eric & I sat at the Petersham Hotel over looking the Thames having tea & scones.

Eric is now 3 months & full of smiles. We should have stayed for white wine spritzers as the sunset was gorgeous but Izzie was keen to get home for fish fingers : )

This morning we went over to Cat & Sophie's house for a play date - 4 toddlers running riot yikes! We had to abandon plans to go to Marble Hill Park because it was so bitterly cold.

Surbie

Just back from a lovely lunch with Aunty Liz in Surbiton. Liz is flying out to NZ tomorrow - we are so jealous that she is heading to the sun & family. It's Michele & Keith's wedding next week!

It was actually sunny today (well for a few moments anyway) which made a nice change.

Tonight Katherine is coming to babysit while we head out for final drinks with Tiff (& quiz night) at the good old Anglers in Teddington.

Sophie is coming around to play shortly so I best tidy up to prepare for the next round of destruction : )

Goldilocks

...and it was just right ... Goldilocks got a new bean chair today and she thought she was pretty damn cool : )

We headed up to "The Marlborough" on Richmond Hill for lunch (this pub used to be Tif & Katie's local) so it was a fitting place for one last pub lunch. We sat by the fire and had yummy food. Izzie managed to entertain herself playing peek-a-boo in the massive curtains.

While we were there it started snowing AGAIN! Come on Spring ....

PS - Izzie if you are reading this in 20 years time - you consumed your body weight in Spicy Stars (the pink packet) on a regular basis!

Reading with Tiff

And this is what I want for dinner please Aunty Tiff

Sunday Drive

We are so turning into our parents : ) We set off this morning for a drive in the Buckinghamshire countryside stopping for lunch at a gastro pub called The Green Dragon http://www.greendragon.co.uk/ in a little town called Haddenham.

The pub had a lovely open fire and Izzie enjoyed warming her hands after coming in from the 5oC wintery weather. The roast dinners were huge and looked yummy but I decided to go for something less filling (not) - Pate followed by Venison Pie.

Dan is cooking up a roast chicken for dinner as Tiffany is staying with us before she flies out to live in Canada with her film director boyfriend : ) We will miss you Tiff!!

A Brand New Day

It's been a very quite inside week for us after contracting the nasty "winter vomiting bug". Dan managed to drag himself into work but Izzie and I hugged the couch mostly.

We generously gave the bug to Katie Peters-Fleet as a leaving gift and it hit her on the flight to Dubai (whoops!)

So after the wintery snow and illness' we are keen to get outside and enjoy the sun.