Gluten Free

Energy Balls

~ Jane

Easy to make and a fairly healthy treat (quite high in sugar because of the dried fruit), energy balls are a great idea for snacks on the go. They keep for days in the fridge and freeze well too.

There are lots of recipe variations and I reckon as long as you use equal quantities of nuts and fruit, you could mix whatever you fancy. I soaked the nuts in hot water with a squeeze of lemon juice for a few hours – to remove the mould and lectins which coat raw nuts and cause digestive issues. I also soaked the dried fruit in hot water to rehydrate it and make it softer – the texture of these energy balls was smooth and moist, like a healthy chocolate truffle.

Ingredients (makes at least 20):

  • 200g raw cashews
  • 100g walnuts and brazil nuts
  • 200g dates
  • 100g cranberries (apple juice sweetened)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • 1 tablespoon raw cacao
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil
  • desiccated coconut and raw cacao to coat

Method:

  1. Put the nuts into a bowl and pour over hot water to cover. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and mix well. Leave to stand for at least two hours before use (or overnight).
  2. Soak the dried fruit in hot water too for a smooth moist texture (optional).
  3. Strain the nuts and rinse them. Place them in a food processor and blend until smooth or a fine crumb.
  4. Strain the fruit and add to the nuts. Blend until smooth.
  5. Add the flavourings. Blend.
  6. Melt the coconut oil in a small pan. Drizzle into the food processor until thoroughly mixed.
  7. Place the mixture in the fridge for at least an hour to harden and chill.
  8. Roll a dessertspoon of the mixture into a ball with your hands. Roll the ball in coconut or cacao.
  9. Chill the balls thoroughly before serving.

 

Breakfast nori rolls

~ Jane
Breakfast nori rolls

I’m a convert! I saw this recipe on social media and had to give it a go. Nori is a type of seaweed and it’s available in sheets in supermarkets – I got mine in Sainsbury’s. I love seaweed! It’s really tasty and nutritious – it’s packed with minerals and full of fibre. Seaweed is especially rich in iodine, which is needed for good thyroid function and other metabolic functions. Our diets are typically low in iodine now that most of us don’t eat much fresh seafood.

These nori rolls could be made the night before and kept in the fridge for breakfast on the go. They could also be taken as a packed lunch. Yum! They’re really easy to make, satisfying and nutritious!

 

Quick Flatbread – grain free, dairy free

~ Jane
Flatbread with bacon, mushrooms and sauerkraut

These flatbreads are great for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Ideal if you’re cutting out wheat, gluten and/or grains, this recipe uses coconut flour and arrowroot powder. They can also be made with a linseed ‘egg’ – this makes the flatbread hold together so well you can roll it as a wrap. Linseeds add extra texture and nutrition too.

These flatbreads work really well with smoked salmon & avocado or bacon & tomatoes, mushrooms, etc. You can take them with you too – add some hummus and salad for a quick packed lunch.

 

 

Ingredients:

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 1 egg (or a linseed ‘egg’ – see below)
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup arrowroot powder
  • 1/3 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder

Instructions:

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 170C.
  2. If using a linseed egg, soak 1tbsp of linseeds in 2tbsp of water while you prepare the rest of the ingredients or until it becomes gloopy. Then blitz it in a NutriBullet, spice grinder or blender.
  3. If using a hen’s egg, beat the egg in a large bowl, add the sea salt, lemon juice, olive oil and water – mix well.
  4. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix into a ball.
  5. Roll out to about 1/2 cm thickness between two sheets of baking paper
  6. Bake on one of the sheets for about ten minutes or until the edges are golden and the bread is firm to the touch.

My gluten free article in Menu magazine

~ Jane

I was delighted to write a contribution to this beautiful Dorset foodie magazine. I wanted to highlight all the positives of gluten free food and how delicious it can be. I chose three Dorset gluten free food heroes and it was great to speak to them – I was really inspired by their stories and how they run their food businesses.

 

Linseed & Almond crackers

~ Jane

Linseed & Almond crackersEveryone loves the taste and crunch of these crackers. They’re easy to make, grain-free, dairy-free and full of minerals, good fats and fibre. They can be eaten as a snack (a great replacement for crisps) or served with soup, hummus, cheese, etc for lunch.

You will need:

  • 100g ground linseeds (I grind them from whole in my NutriBullet)
  • 100g ground almonds (ditto)
  • 50g any other seeds – I like to use pumpkin but sunflower and sesame sometimes feature
  • 1 egg (you could use water instead but it makes the crackers more chewy)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Bake on the baking paper at 140C for 20-25 minutes or until slightly bubbly and crunchy on the edges. Leave to cool and break into pieces. Store in an airtight container (if they last that long!). #MyHealthHack