It’s the middle of winter and oh so cold outside, a great time to do some gluten free home cooking.  And it’s not that hard!  This month’s newsletter edition focuses on some cooking tips for you and the recipe is spinach and beef cannelloni.  Yum!   If you have a great gluten free recipe to share, let us know and we’ll publish it in a monthly newsletter.  And if you don’t want to do your own cooking, there are of course, plenty of ready made or easy bake options. 

Happy Eating!
Jason and Jodie

First of all it is important to remember that many foods are naturally gluten free including all fresh meat, fish, vegetables and fruit, rice, potatoes, herbs and spices, legumes (beans, chickpeas, lentils) and polenta.  This means that you can create numerous dishes based on these foods that taste great and are already gluten free. 

Then there are a number of products that are direct substitutes for foods that normally contain gluten (wheat, barley, rye or oats) such as gluten free pasta, cereals, sauces and confectionary.  For example, soy sauce naturally contains barley, but soy sauce based on tamari is gluten free.  This gluten free product be used a direct swap for soy sauce in a recipe.

Finally there are the foods which may need a mix of ingredients to replace foods with gluten.  These are typically foods based on wheat flour where often a mix of gluten free flours is needed to replace the wheat.  Gluten is a binding agent in cooking and therefore, without this agent, different ingredients are required.  Fortunately, there are many products available these days that do this substitution for you.  There are a number gluten free sweet and savoury biscuits, a range of packet mixes for cakes, muffins, pizza bases, bread and pancakes. The mixes use a variety of gluten free flours to make them taste good and most closely resemble the wheat based original.  You can also buy ready made gluten free plain or self-raising flour (such as FG Roberts or Casalare) that can often be substituted for normal flour in many recipes. 

Enjoy cooking gluten free! If you have a recipe that you have created and want to share with the world, please send to us and we’ll publish them in one of our newsletters.

2pkts Casalare Cannelloni

Cannelloni filling

• 3 tabs olive oil
• 500g mince beef
• 250g frozen spinach, defrosted
• 3 tabs pesto sauce
• 3 cloves garlic crushed
• ½ cup pine nuts, toasted and roughly chopped
• 1/3 cup Orgran All Purpose Crumbs
• 2 tabs olive oil
• 1 egg

Sauce

• 2 (425g) tins diced tomatoes
• 2 tabs olive oil
• 2 tabs tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• Dash red wine (optional)
• Handful chopped fresh parsley
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Method

Preheat oven to 200 deg.  Grease large baking dish. Put 1 tab oil in a frypan and add the mince.  Cook until browned. In a separate small saucepan, brown the pine nuts in a little oil, about 5 mins.  Drain on paper towelling and then chop roughly. Combine pesto, garlic, pine nuts, crumbs, 2 tabs oil and egg in a bowl.  Add the mince and spinach and mix. Stuff each cannelloni shell with filling.

For the sauce, put tomatoes, oil, tomato paste, herbs and wine in a frypan.  Simmer for 20 mins. Pour half the sauce on the bottom of the baking dish, covering the whole dish.  Arrange the cannelloni in 1 layer on top of sauce.  Pour the remaining sauce over cannelloni, ensuring all pasta is covered.  Top with parsley and parmesan cheese.  Bake in the oven for 35-40 mins.

Want to make your own fruit bread?

Just add 1 cup of your favourite dried fruit or mixed fruit, 3 teaspoons of mixed spice and 1 teaspoon castor sugar to a bread mix – Basco, Orgran, Well and Good – and bake in the oven as per the mix instructions.

Slicing gluten free bread

We all know that gluten free bread crumbles more easily than normal bread, as it doesn’t contain gluten, a key binding agent. So when you want to slice your fresh gluten free bread that you have made or bought, one way to assist less crumbling is to put it in the fridge for a day so that the bread becomes firmer. It should be easier to slice after this. This goes particularly for bread with fruit or nuts in it, as these can add to more crumbling. For best results, use a sharp knife preferably .

Make your own pita chips!

Bake Empower tortilla wraps in some olive oil in oven 180 deg for about 10 mins until wraps become crispy. Break wraps into small chip pieces. Sprinkle over grated cheese and herbs or lemon pepper. Bake for another 5 mins until cheese is melted.

Teriyaki and Sesame Simmer Sauce – Yackandandah
$5.50
Yackandadah delicious gluten free simmer sauces help you make a quick meal. Fry some meat and vegetables and add the sauce. Serve with rice

Polenta - Select Foods
$4.25
Maize semolina polenta (gluten free). Mix with water and a little salt and cook to a very thick porridge. Can also be fried in oil. Polenta can be used in stuffings, cake and pastry mixes. Packed in a resealable bag.

Lemon Wafer Biscuits – Eskal
$3.60
Plain wafer fingers filled with lemon flavoured cream.

Choculence and Minton - Leda Nutrition
$4.85
These popular chocolate biscuits have had a slight change to the ingredients and are now fructose free!

Mushroom Risotto – Healtheries
$7.95
Unfortunately, the Healtheries Simple Field Mushroom Risotto is no longer being made. We only have a limited supply – buy now while stocks last

Here are our monthly specials for July.

Agra Peas and Greens - Tasty Bite

Indian meals ready to heat and serve. This meal is a great idea for work lunches, or even to have a few in the cupboard at home. Fresh green peas simmered in a sauce of creamed greens, cashewnuts and spices. Serve with Rice.

Normal price: $4.25
Our price: $3.95 save 7%

D’Lush Peppermint Double Choc Biscuits – Naturally Good

D’Lush biscuits are a naturally wicked indulgence!!!!! A true gluten free taste sensation in either double choc or double choc peppermint. So D’Lush your senses!!!!!!!

Normal price: $3.90
Our price: $3.60 save 8%

Freenut Butter (Smooth) – Eskal

Freenut butter is a great substitute for peanut butter for those who cannot eat peanuts, or for young children.

Normal price: $5.49
Our price: $3.00 save 45%

Gluten Free Onion Crackers – Eskal

Gluten free onion crackers. Great for serving with cheese or dips.

Normal price: $4.20
Our price: $3.96 save 6%

Japuir Vegetables – Tasty Bite

Indian meals ready to heat and serve. This meal is a great idea for work lunches, or even to have a few in the cupboard at home. Garden vegetables and cubes of paneer cheese simmered with spices, cashew nuts & raisins. Serve with Rice.

Normal price: $4.25
Our price: $3.95 save 7%

Spaghetti – Bi-Aglut

Bi-Aglut pasta has all the taste and flavour of traditional Italian cooking. It is without doubt the best gluten free pasta on the market.

Normal price: $9.95
Our price: $8.99 save 10%