The other night I flicked through the cookbook Small Plates and Sweet Treats: My Family's Journey to Gluten-Free Cooking, from the Creator of Cannelle et Vanille, Aran Goyoaga and came across a chicken Clafoutis recipe, which I thought I would adapt to my needs and make for dinner. The recipe below is the result. I did have to leave out, substitute and add several ingredients. If you want the original recipe, you will have to go to her book. As those who read my blog know, I have been diagnosed as having fructose malabsorption. I am now on a FODMAPS diet to see if I am also intolerant to the other FODMAPS because they often go hand in hand. What are FODMAPS? These are fermentable, poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates. They are indigestible sugars which can cause all sorts of problems when they reach the bowel unabsorbed by the stomach. FODMAP stands for: Fermentable – rapidly broken down by bacteria in the bowel Oligosaccharides – fructans and … [Read more...] about Chicken, Zucchini & Gruyere Clafoutis – gluten-free and low FODMAPs
Low Fodmap Recipes
Chocolate Mousse Cake – gluten-free & low fodmap
Thank you for all of those who have bought my e-cookbook. For anyone else interested in the 60% discount, visit my cookbook page. I have decided the best way to approach this new chapter in my life - gluten-free and low fructose - is to take the classic recipes and turn them on their heads. Not completely on their heads but certainly to remove much of the fructose and all the gluten. I am thinking this will take some experimentation but already I am getting a handle on the changes that are necessary for each recipe. Now that I have a successful gluten-free flour mix, I can make most things. And last weekend's effort was a chocolate mousse cake. I figured that if the cake mix came out a little dry, then the mousse would compensate but all was well. The only thing about making mousse with eggs is that it needs to be in a fridge and that does certainly change the texture of the cake crumb. But that rich chocolately mousse saves the day. What a shame Easter is no longer ahead of us … [Read more...] about Chocolate Mousse Cake – gluten-free & low fodmap
Creamy Lemon Tarts – gluten-free and low-fructose
Happy Easter everyone! Easter is a wonderful religious celebration as well as a chance to take a break before the long winter sets in (in New Zealand). And, of course, there are all those Easter eggs and hot cross buns to indulge in. Unfortunately, I can't indulge in those but I still have my baking which satisfies the need for something sweet and causes no problems. These lemon tarts are gluten-free and low fructose but mostly they are damned tasty. The pastry was a great success and the tart bases stayed together so well I could lift them out of the tart pans without any sticking or crumbling. Low-fructose is not only wise for those like me who absorb it badly but it is for anyone who cares about their health. There is overwhelming evidence that a high sugar diet could kill you. I don't feel the need to go into this because you only have to Google it to find all you need to know. There are heaps of reputable sources which will convince you. If it's the only thing you do, stay away … [Read more...] about Creamy Lemon Tarts – gluten-free and low-fructose
A Standing Desk and Dinner Last Night
This is what we ate last night – a deconstructed gluten-free burger with polenta instead of bread buns. No one in our family missed the buns. There’s no need for a recipe because polenta is made according to the instructions on the packet, the chips were baked in the oven, the salad was assembled in two minutes and the meat patty was just that – seasoned minced beef, though I did add some cumin powder and cumin seeds because I love cumin. If you have good minced meat, there is no need to add anything else except seasoning. This was a meal I could eat without any qualms and everyone was happy with it. I am starting to get the hang of this. When I visited the dietician following my food intolerance breath tests, she said that it was wise to take a holistic approach to my issues because of how much other factors like stress impact on the digestive system. So I have made a few changes and one of those is regarding my working position. I sit at a desk for up to 8 hours a day in front … [Read more...] about A Standing Desk and Dinner Last Night
Chocolate Zucchini Brownies – gluten-free and fructose friendly
Here are the brownies I promised you if they worked out. And they worked out with bells on. They were rich, moist and had these enormous lumps of chocolate in them. That was because I didn't cut up the chocolate very small. My friend's teenage son said they were the best brownies he had ever eaten but wanted to know what the green bits were in them. I guess I could have peeled the zucchini so no trace of them remained. He appeared to accept the vegetable content of the brownies with nonchalance. I have created my own gluten-free flour mixture to make my life easier. I make it up and keep it in a large Tupperware container so it is ready when the baking bug bites me. If you wish to make any of these or my future baking recipes, it would pay to make up this mix as well. This is the mix: 2 cups brown rice - Purchase here 3 cups white rice - Purchase here 1 cup sorghum flour - Purchase here 2 cups potato starch - Purchase here 1 cup tapioca flour - Purchase here 5 tsp xanthan gum - … [Read more...] about Chocolate Zucchini Brownies – gluten-free and fructose friendly
Banana Muffins – gluten-free and low Fodmap
This is my third attempt at muffins which are gluten free and fructmal friendly. I mentioned that the first attempt induced laughter in the brave souls who tried them. The second attempt was already a great improvement but a little too dense for me though Adriano seemed to think they were fine. But then Italians do like their cakes a little on the dry side compared to the Anglo Saxons of the world. I then researched this whole gluten-free flour situation and have come up with my own mixture combining five flours. Over the last couple of months I have accumulated a few different ones in my pantry and only had to seek out potato starch in order to achieve this blend. The best thing is to go to a specialist store which deals in real food and buy the lot in one go instead of in dribs and drabs like me. The result is a very acceptable banana muffin and I am feeling very proud of myself. I made these a couple of days ago and have just made some chocolate brownies with the same flour mix to … [Read more...] about Banana Muffins – gluten-free and low Fodmap
