No Wheat, No Rye, No Barley - No Problem!

I've had images published in many of the local and national newspapers, and although this was just a spot size, this publication in the Washington Post is one of my favourites. Not just because it's the most prestigious newspaper in existance, but because of the fantastic article on Celiac (sic) Disease which it accompanies.

I found restaurants and cafes in America were completely ignorant of the condition, and when asked for Gluten Free alternatives, suggested Pasta, Cous-Cous and even Bagels....

(Online version here)

Pure Genius!

Any Coeliac out there will tell you that the worst thing about the condition is the bread you're able to eat. It's not that you can't get Gluten Free bread, but what bread is out there is either dry, crumbly and sucks all the moisture from your body even before it enters your mouth (Tesco, pay attention here), or it's brick-like and would consititute an offensive weapon. Because of the low turn-over, GF breads are loaded with preservatives and have a long shelf life.

Well, there's a new player at the table who claims to make gluten free bread that is just like normal bread. Genius Gluten Free bread is only available in Tesco (ok, you're off the hook, slightly), it's freshly baked and has a short shelf life. They claim it slices 'properly', toasts 'properly' and tastes like proper food.

Impossible!

Tara arrived home with a loaf today (£2.49) and I immediately cut a slice, buttered it, and waited to be disappointed. It's bound to be crumbly and dry, or tough and heavy. It's bound to taste like cardboard.

Imagine my surprise when I was met with a sensation only matched by proper, fresh baked bread! Moist, fully flavoured, with a light texture. Absolute heaven! It's dear for a loaf of bread (but we're used to that), and isn't available on prescription, but boy, it's worth every penny! Two more slices were cut, buttered and devoured.

I'll certainly be buying more, however, it seems to sell out very quickly.

See Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne's website for more information.

Irish Soda Bread

Being a Coeliac in Ireland is a cruel blow: Ireland is famous for its breads, and not being able to eat them is torture.

So I was delighted to receive a recipe for GF Irish Soda bread from my dietician.

Ingredients
8 oz/200g Gluten free white flour mix
1oz/25g Butter or margarine
1 teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
6 fl oz/180ml Buttermilk or soured milk
Pinch of salt (I normally omit this)

1. Dissolve the bicarb of soda in the buttermilk
2. Rub butter/margarine into the flour then add the buttermilk and work together.
3. Place on a floured board or worksurface and knead for a few seconds.
4. Form it into a large 'round', about 10" in diameter and slightly less than an inch thick. Cut into quarters.
5. Using a traditional griddle (or a large non-stick pan with no oil!) cook the bread over a medium heat, turning when golden brown. Cook slowly to ensure it's done through.

Slice in half and add butter when it's just out of the pan. If you keep bread, wrap it in a clean cloth and use within 8 hours to keep the flavour and texture. It's also wonderful sliced in half and toasted.

Barkat Samples

I received a box yesterday with some samples from Barkat. Unlike the Dietary Specials sample loaf, these had not expired their Best Before date (by a couple of weeks). A packet of Pretzels and two packets of wafer biscuits, one lemon cream, the other vanilla. I was never a fan of wafer biscuits, but I guess it's a case of what-you-cant-have: these are actually very palatable.

Holidays can be a Pain in the Ar*e

Wexford Sunset

Since being diagnosed with Coeliac, I've been away on holiday a few times. As I alluded to in my first post, in Florida it was surprisingly difficult to find gluten free food, and even the concept of gluten free was alien to many restaurants. In one I was offered pizza, then pasta as 'gluten free' alternatives. One night I had a Macdonald's burger (sans bun) which really confused Johnny-Two-Stars in the world's biggest MacDonald's.

Anyway, we're just back from a week in Wexford. Not knowing if GF food would be easily obtained, we loaded up the car with copious quantities of bread, pasta, biscuits, snacks etc. for myself and Ryan.

We need not have bothered. Even the local SuperValu in Wellington Bridge had a surprising amount of GF produce on sale, more than our big Tesco store in Carrickfergus. The range was also more than I've seen in Tesco, Sainsburys or Asda combined.

Well done SuperValu!

Ryan fishes the Rock Pool

Dietary Specials

I requested a sample pack from Dietary Specials a couple of weeks ago, and today (6th July) a box arrived. Goodie, I thought! Then I realised - use by date was 4th July. Thanks a lot, Dietary Specials.

Welcome to Diary of a Coeliac

I've been thinking of setting up this blog for quite a while now - ever since a gluten-free unfriendly trip to Florida over the New Year, in fact.

But I've finally done it.

I'll post as often as I can, trying to capture any Coeliac and Dermatitis Herpetiformis related incidents in my day-to-day life. I was diagnosed on the 1st August 2008, the same day I was diagnosed with Pernicious Anaemia. Which caused the other? I don't know, but there is a lot of evidence that the two are very closely related. Since then I've been doing my best to be Gluten Free, but sometimes it's a case of having to starve!

My son (12) has also been diagnosed within the past couple of weeks.