Gulten Free day one. Challenge one: eating out.

Today I had a very busy day at Uni, im currently running around running errands and constantly seem to have my stress head on as this is my final week of University studies... everrrr. Scary stuff. My looming deadline for my exhibition is Monday so its all go at the moment. This afternoon however I took a little moment to have lunch with my cousin, Amy, whose in town at the moment working.

  We decided to head to the lanes for a ladies luncheon and catch up, Our destination was one of my favourite eateries Iydea. Iydea is a wonderful canteen-style restaurant in North Laine catering for vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs, ( gluten free me catered for! hurrah!) All of their dishes are clearly marked as to their suitability for each of these dietary requirements meaning that I find it an incredibly easy and delicious place to eat. They have a range of tempting, delicious and healthy hot and cold food, which always varies on a day-to-day basis.

Tofu and Aubergine Madras with
parsely butter carrots, roasted broccoli,
pickled beetroot and tzatzki

I spent a good while weighing up the vast option and was torn between gluten free Falafel or  Tofu madras curry. Amy instantly chose the curry, so I followed suit. You get given the option to add your choice of vegetables, salad and toppings...

 I opted for carrots served in parsley butter, Roasted rocked and pepper broccoli, pickled beetroot chutney and a cooling tzaziki dip... I'm not too sure what Amy chose to accompany hers i was too interested in scoffing mine...

manic food happiness

 after lunch we said our goodbyes and I headed to Infinity health foods to purchase some gluten free baking produce.

Also picked up some Gluten and wheat free bread buns from marks and sparks... Miss bread already (I think its a case of you always want what you cant have.)  I will be road testing these tomorrow!

AHHH yes... Confession, I can't help myself when it comes to Brighton's to American Candy Store... I momentarily went crazy in the aisle and bought,  PB cookie dough bites, mini mallow cup and Charleston chew... not sure if there GF friendly (will have to hide them til i know for sure) but the Betty Crocker chocolate peanut butter cookie lip balm certainly is, Ohhhh it tastes just like a nutty cookie, I am reapplying every 5 minutes... no exaggeration. It will just have to satisfy my sweet tooth for now whilst i read up on some gluten free baking recipes!

Going Gluten Free

Yes... The Gluten free, from this day forward, Bake n Beebz will be changing.

Wheat and gluten is something if often thought of cutting out, I always seem to be sensitive, react in some way, feel uncomfortable and lacking energy after eating a gluten heavy meal.
So for the interest of health and my well being (I wont go in to the finer the gory details) Im now on a trial Gluten free diet. Which means my baking and eating habits are about to endure a serious shake up!
 Im in a way excited about this challenge. I'm looking forward to trying new recipes and inventive ways to use other flours and grains to create scrummy baked goods.

First on the  shopping list... Gluten free oat meal! I seriously can't go a day with out my oats.

Chocolate Coma

 Going

 Going

Gone.

 Had to pack Harry off with the remaining slices... To get this dangerous cake away from me, and out of my house.

Fajita spiced chicken, baby spinach, dollop of sour cram and chive,  toms and peppers.

 A salad to balance everything out...

Beach babes.

...Just a snap of me and beebz on our holiday to the seaside.

Baking for the birthday boy... Chocolateiest Chocolate Cake!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MR. BAKE N' BEEBZ!

 For the sepcial man in my life... a special cake!

 I asked Harry what sort ofcake he would like and asked for a chocolate one... and specifically not a 'healthy' chocolate one. So i went all out for this special occasion. In my head i was picturing recreating the massive one from matilda, always envied that kid and his cake.

Livin' the dream

 

 

The crack in the top sorta looks like a heart. nawwwww.

 I used a Nigella recipe, of coarse. her ol' faithful, favourite go to chocolate cake recipe... and now mine! Holy deliciousness, ate half of the batter before it reached the tin or oven (nothing new there) but it still made a beast of a sponge cake.

 Ingrediants

• 200g plain flour
• 200g caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 40g best-quality cocoa
• 175g soft unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons real vanilla extract
• 150ml sour cream  

Directions as penned by Nige herself...

Method

1. Take everything out of the fridge so that all the ingredients can come to room temperature.
2. Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180°C and line and grease your tin with removable base.
3. Now all you have to do is put all the cake ingredients - flour, sugar, baking powder and bicarb, cocoa, butter, eggs, vanilla and sour cream - into a food processor and process until you have a smooth, thick batter. If you want to go the long way around, just mix the flour, sugar and leavening agents in a large bowl and beat in the soft butter until you have a combined and creamy mixture. Now whisk together the cocoa, sour cream, vanilla and eggs and beat this into your bowl of mixture.
4. pour batter into prepared tin and bake until a cake tester, or a thin skewer, comes out clean, which should be about 45 minutes, but it is wise to start checking at 35.
5. Remove the cake, in their tin, to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes before turning out of the tin. Don't worry about any cracks as they will easily be covered by the icing later.  

 

I cut my cake in half and once cool spread white chocolate swirl chocolate spread over one half.

Popped the top on and spread on extra icing, I used melted milk chocolate with a bit of golden syrup spooned in, carefully placed on some buttons and stars for decoration, and bobs your uncle, you got a cake. A very chocolatey cake. Perfect.

Celebration dinner! I cooked pan seared, pesto pork medallions with a chedder, sour cream, sweet corn potato mash and veggies on the side. We are going to have a quite night in with Jersey Shore and a slab of cake. Goodnight.

SWEET TOOTH O.D

HEAVEN

On a Trip to Eastbourne, for some charity shopping. I couldn't resist nipping into an old fashioned seaside novelty confectionery shop. Could have bagged myself a whole days worth of meals...

Got myself a fry up for breakfast or  pie and chips for dinner.

 Mmmmmm Marshmellow sandwich for lunch...
... and to round things off nicely some fruit, nice, light and healthy.

M.I.A

Sorry guys, Bake and Beebz has gone a bit A.W.O.L the last couple of days but I broke my camera, probably dancing on it, or something. Replacement is being sorted out tomorrow!  But i have a few snaps the weekend from my phone which will have to do for now.
I have been emersing myself in my university work lately. I am now in the final stretch... 14 days left til i hand in all my work and the end of my education. Can't wait to finish and get baking once again.... I think this is a telling sign my choice of degree wasn't quite right!

Baking with a hang ohhhh ver

Equals cookies all over the floor!

iPhone!

Received my new phone today in the post, I was waiting for the mail man all morning eagerly anticipating my delivery! Now I'm all iPhoned up, which means I can now blog and post whilst on the move!

Brighton eats.

 Me and Mr Bake n Beebz decided to head the Brighton for a bit of shopping. As soon as we arrrived tummys rumbled, we were starving, so headed to our favourite Italian sandwich shop that we always seem to end up in. Caffe Aldo is a small establishment run by a very friendly and vocal Italian guy... Aldo. It looks very basic from the street, but Aldo's will always have a special place in our hearts. We popped in there on a whim when we first moved to Brighton and were not disappointed.

Tuna + mozza

Roast veg panini

This is real Italian food, serving the type of fresh thin Italian pizza you’d buy from a local café in Italy.
We always get a panini each, Today optiing for the tono (tuna, mozzarella, rocket black olives with a drizzle of olive oil) and the zucchini (roast red peppers and courgette with hummus olives and mozzarela) Mr B n' B also got him self a slice of margherria. The quality is superb and the service is always Friendly and with a smile. Last time i got some free chocolate crepes thrown in, but i wasn't so lucky this time. I seriously recommend this place for eat in or take away.

Marg pizza

After hunge was satisfied we trawled the vintage shops looking for summer clothes. Mr bake n Beebz got himself a whole new summer wardrobe. my only purchase of the day was these fellas...

 

From an special American candy store in the lanes. The fact they match my nail varnish is no coincidence.