Lemon Happiness Cookie's

I call these cookies, but technically they should be called shortbread since they have no eggs in and loads of flour. They're called Happiness Cookie's because they make me very popular in my house (which in turn makes me happy), everyone seems to like them and they're my Baking Trump Card which I usually play when a person who has previously been cynical about gluten-free food comes over for coffee and I palm them off at non G/F. Nobody knows the difference and the g/f sceptics go home with a few tucked in their handbags and the recipe in hand. Yes, I am that good.

 

Ingredients

• 50g/2oz Salted butter
• 75g/30z Caster sugar
• 150g/6oz Self raising flour (Doves Farm)
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon

Makes 16

Extras

• Large baking tray
• Greaseproof paper
• Butter or oil for greasing

Method

• Preheat your oven to Gas 3 and get to work greasing and lining your baking tray.
• Beat together the sugar and butter in a large bowl either with a wooden spoon or if your a lazy mare like moi then dig out the electric whisk. give the whole lot a good beat/whisk until its soft and light and well mixed.
• Stir in the rind and juice of the lemon (careful of paper cuts!) and mix through the sugar/butter mix.
• Sift the flour into the bowl and rub it in with your finger tips, pulling the mixture into a ma-hussive ball. At this stage if it feels dry add a few drops of milk,likewise if it feels too wet add a sprinkle of flour. Your aiming for a non crumbly non sticky dough (clear as mud,eh?).
• Pull small bits off of the mixture and roll into large walnut sized balls and pop on the baking tray.
• Bake in the oven for around 15minutes, due to the totally unpredictable nature of g/f baking they may need 5-10minutes more. They will brown slightly on top and will be firm when cooked so check on them and give them a poke to judge whether they're done.
• Serve to all those who say 'I don't want any of your manky/dry/bland gluten-free crap' and once they've devoured your awesome cookies, they can then EAT THEIR WORDS. 

What's in my baking tin?

We are all nosey. Fact. Given half the chance many of us would love to have a good fish around in a friends handbag while she pops the loo. That's why I love the various 'Whats in my handbag/purse' sort of posts on the fashion and lifestyle blogs.
So. Since this is a baking/food blog (supposedly) I thought I'd do a variation on a theme, because I doubt very much you'd want to see the contents on my handbag (my front door key and various hairbands and receipts) especially if you come here hoping for baking and gluten-free content! Instead...(the tension is palpable!)...I'm going to do a 'Whats in my baking tin?' post. Exciting, no?
I'm not sure if it's going to be anymore interesting than the hairband/receipt/key contents of my bag, but I often get asked what type of cake cases etc I use so I thought this might answer a few questions and give you all a break from my usual word heavy posts. The contents of my tin is a bit sparse at the moment, I need to stock up on a few things like colourings and cases and I've got my eye on some vanilla paste that Jamie is always waving around on 30-Minute-Meals.
My No.1 untapped resource is Holland and Barrett's, you can pick up whole nutmeg and cinnamon sticks for really reasonable prices, and vanilla pods (which the supermarkets charge mega bucks for) is so cheap it might as well be free! Sainsbury's also do great vanilla extract and other flavours like orange and rose water for under a £1 in their Taste the Difference Range, and they've got a good choice of sprinkles and sparkly bits to pop on your cakes.
I would highly recommend silicone cases, even though it seems expensive (mine were 6quid for 12) it works out cheaper in the long run because they can be washed and reused. My next purchase will be a few big silicone cases for doing things like birthday cakes and bread.

And for my next trick..

After you've got over the intial shock of me posting twice in the same week, I hope your sitting down for a third helping, you lucky devils!
After being on very intimate terms with the toliet for the past few weeks-and believe you me, no one will ever know the grouting round the tiles and the rattle of the cistern quite like I do- I'm finally starting to feel a smidge better, perhaps not fighting fit but no longer in a morphine induced haze or revisting every meal I eat.
Illness aside, January hasn't been too bad a month. I ordered a new wardrobe and bedside cabinet which (with a wee bit of help from my dad) I managed to construct hitch free, you will know by now is quite the achievement for me since A. I'm beyond clumsy and B. I have the attention span of a malteaser.
You've also probably noticed that the blog has had a reshuffle. I downloaded a photoshop type program which I used to do my blog header, it's probably wildly amateurish but I'm quite proud of it, and also my new computer skills (thank-you to Matt for your advice and help!). What do you all think? I'm loving some of the girls new headers and layouts; Beth's labels are very cute, Gem's new layout and header are fab, and I love all the little touches Emma's added to her blog.
I've been slacking a bit in my 365 project, but I've taken loads of pictures (although none from my hopsital stay-not overly keen on documentation of me looking rough being broadcast on here!) I just need to upload them all. Is anyone else doing their own 365 project?
I hope that people found my review helpful, I got some great feedback. I try to cover all bases when I do the reviews but if there's anything I'm missing or something in particular that I havent included leave me a comment, similarly if there's a product you want to see reviewed let me know. Coming soon in reviews is Marks and Spencers and Starbucks new sandwiches, and also my first edition of Gluten-Free Heroes which I'm really excited about.
Anyway I shall leave you with a few pics from the past month and a few bits and bobs I got for Chrimbo-better late than never eh?
See you all soon my Katie-Boo Babes!

The lovely pile of pressies I got from The Gorgeous Becky

Owl handwarmer from The 'rents

Super sweet suprise parcel I recieved from soph (cider with sophie) as a get well soon.

 Vivienne Westwood necklace from The Boyf (do excuse my puffy and bruised hand-they had to poke around to the get an IV in

Cute or what? Only £4!

After bawling down the phone to my mum from my hospital bed she bought me in this fella

My new wardrobe,minus the doors

My very own cake stand from The 'rents.

J'taime

The commercial enterprise that is Valentines Day is just round the corner. Unfortunately I have a colonoscopy the day after on the 15th so I shall be spending the most romantic day of the year chugging 'bowel prep'. Sexy.
Anyway, that hasn't dampened my spirits and I've been surfing the Internet for a few sweet nothings that you might like to bestow upon the guy or gal in your life. Or if your on the singles train go ahead and treat yourself, because who cares if you don't have a 'Date Du Jour' when you have a frying pan that makes heart shaped fried eggs?

Card from Marks and Spencer's

Card from Marks and Spencer's

Heart Necklace from Sunday Girl

Sign from dotcomgiftshop.com

Ladle from dotcomgiftshop.com

Heart shaped egg pan from dotcomgiftshop.com

Red Velvet cake from the Hummingbird Bakery's 'Made Without Range'

Card from Paperchase

J'taime t-shirt from Wildfox

Review: Sainsbury's Freefrom Soft Multigrain Rolls

A few weeks ago when I was languishing in my hospital bed, the lovely PR team at Sainsbury's sent me some samples from their new bakery selection from the Freefrom range. The range includes a white loaf,  brown multi grain rolls (which I'm reviewing here) and white rolls.


The low down
Started in 2002, Sainsburys 'Freefrom' selection was the first of it's kind to be developed by one of the 'big gun' supermarkets, pipping major retailer Tesco's to the post. Today the range is 200 products strong and Sainsbury's have recently launched the 'new and improved' look as well as the previously mentioned 'fresh bakery' selection.

What Sainsbury's say
"We're proud to be able to add such a delicious selection of fresh bakery products to the Freefrom range"

Price
RRP £2.19 (pack of 4)


My take
From the outset the product looks promising. The packaging is clearer and more concise than the older version and theres less of it, I'm also pleased to see none of the god awful vac-pack so many gluten-free products seem to be sealed in.
The rolls are a decent size (no dreaded micro portions here!) and feels like a 'normal' roll when I slice it up for my lunch, and unlike a few other products in the range it isn't 'par baked' and doesn't need to be heated or toasted, this in turn means less faffing which is especially good if you've not much time to make your lunch or are busy etc.
The rolls themselves are soft without being brittle or the least bit dense the way some gluten-free bread products can be, and they stay in one piece when I butter them without falling apart or cracking.
With regards to taste Sainsbury's have outdone themselves on their already excellently tasting range: the rolls are yummy, filling and tasty, and for all intents and purposes are like a 'normal roll'. Great for making a quick sandwich at lunchtime or taking with you to have 'on the go', they are also great to have with a bowl of soup or with a meal, it's a product that you could probably use as a burger roll as well as for a sandwich.


Verdict
Sainsbury's are cottoning on to the fact that meal times are what many Coeliacs and allergy suffers struggle with. Instead of pushing sweet treats like the biscuits and puddings, they are one of the only supermarkets to put the emphasis on providing quick, easy and affordable meals.
These new additions to the range are a triumph. The updated packaging and the meal time marketing of the products will ensure Sainsbury's Freefrom will be first choice for a lot of people when it comes to choosing not only gluten-free, but dairy free products as well.
The only slightly sour note (and this is me nit-picking) was seeing the fresh bake loaf on the shelves in my local Sainsbury's and noting with disappointment the mini dimensions of it, especially compared to the mighty Genius loaf, but not having tasted the loaf I will hold judgement until I have!
All in all, a brilliant product, fresh, tasty,versatile and great value for money.




For more information on Sainsburys Freefrom range visit their website here.
It's probably also worth mentioning that Sainsbury's magazine do a variety of great gluten-free meals, recipes and ideas, I buy it every month and I always find great recipes which are safe and suitable, so it's well worth a purchase and at £1.60 its one of the cheapest foodie mags on shelves!

The Usual Suspects

2011 hasn't got off to the well intentioned and organised start I had so planned, and The Other Bowel Problems (what else?) threw a well aimed punch which landed me in hospital last week. Stranded as I was without wifi I was unable to post/tweet/email. It was pure torture. Despite all the protests I made against twitter in the beginning I am well and truly converted and I rather missed it during my time incarcerated.
So.
I'm back now, and although recipe posts might be on hold for a few week until I get my appetite back again, I have some other posts up my sleeve for you (which I hope you'll love). I'm terribly sorry for all the delay and hoo haa, I feel very bad and guilty, like I do when I forget I've left the dog outside in the garden in the rain. Anyway. From this point on expect normal posting to resume.
Also a lovely hello and thank-you to my new readers who have followed in my absence, don't worry my posts aren't usually this short, sparse and desolate!
See you all in the week!

Katie-Boo k

Versatile Bloggers Award

The super duper gorgeous Lucy at aliceandbeauty gave me this oh so sweet blogger award, my first (comon, clap!!). Which was so lovely,  I'd been plodding along in my quiet little corner of cyberspace, and up pops Lucy with the award. Very sweet and very much appreciated.

Rules are rules....

You've got to thank and link back to the lovely who gave you the award in the first place

share 7 things about yourself and answer another 10 questions.

Give the award to 7 blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy,

leave your recipient a note telling them about the award.

Seven rather boring things about me..

1. I'm a freelance (read unpaid) writer and researching my first book

2. I'm geek for Star Trek and WW1.

3. I have 3 cats and 1 dog, all criminally insane,

4. My 2 favourite cities are Brighton and Sheffield.

5. I own almost 200 books.

6. Katie-Boo is my alias not my name.

7. I broke my GHD's on new years eve and cried for 15minutes.

10 questions..

1. Why did you create this blog?

I was desperately bored, and it seemed a way to sort of 'evolve' my writing, if you like. I loved the other blogs I was reading, which were mostly fashion type mosts, and there was no way I'd be putting pictures up of my pasty face, so I started blogging about something I know a lot about..eating and baking, specifically gluten-free baking.

2. What kind of blogs do you follow?

Travel, fashion, food, lifestyle.There's so many great blogs and some really brilliant writers. The Internet  is throwing out some great new writers who will go on to do big things one of these days. Gem from FromGemWithLove  is especially engaging and interesting writer, she'd write the sort of book/novel/article which you would never be able to put down and her photos are always beautiful. I really admire the fashion blogger's, a you've got hand it to anyone who have the kudos to put pictures of themselves and their outfits up and ask for opinions, and they get so much sh*t as well, you have to admire the likes of Gemfatale,Vipxo, LLYMLRS and Milkteef, they are all lovely girls but they come in for some serious (and totally unjustified) flack! I'm also seriously in love Lua Los Angeles, her food is yummy, comforting and straight talking.

3. Favourite makeup brand?

Mac and Clinique.

4. Favourite clothing brand?

Topshop, ASOS, and Primark and All Saints.

5. Indispensable makeup product?

Clinique 3-step, Clinique super balance makeup,Mac strobe cream.

6. Favourite colour(s)?

Pink, orange, navy and grey.

7. Favourite perfume?

YSL-Elle, Michael Kors For Women, and Dior's Miss Cherie.

8. Favourite film?

Pan's Labyrinth, The Pianist, Into The Wild.

9. What country would you like to visit and why?

France, I'd like to go back to Ypres and The Somme.

10. Make the last question yourself and answer - Guilty Pleasure?

Watching The Vampire diaries in my jammies with my slanket and a plate of cookies.

After thanking God, my agent and my parents, I'd like to pass

this award on to the following people:

The ace Soph at Cider With Sophie

The talented Beth at Deer Little Fawn

 The owl-tastic Emily at Handmade by Emily

The gorgeous Alyse at Integrating Alyse

The Lovely Emma at Voodle

A very clever Katie at What Katie Found

And lastly the ever stylish Vickie at ADVENTURES IN FASHION 

 

Katie-Boo k

 

Oi, You there, Blog features!

Well, hello there! Don't look at me like that, I've been busy!


Happy 2011!

You may have noticed that 'A Girls Guide...'  has a bit of a re-jig. I'm not planning on keeping it, it's just hanging around until I can get my blog header scanned and I can sort out the layout etc and get my head round this HTML lark yet again.
I actually feel a wee bit sick that I haven't posted a recipe for so long, but I have one today so I can sleep easy tonight! I'm still going to keep all the lard laden recipes this year, but I'm going to work some healthier recipes into the mix. My dads been on at me to find him some heart healthy recipes, which means low fat and low salt, so expect more nutritious recipes this year, and I could do with losing a few pounds before my bum gets it's own postcode.
I really want to move onwards and upwards with this blog, I need to get some sort of proper organisational system down so readers can access the recipes etc better. Also I want to integrate my 30 Before 30 into the blog (more on that another day). Does anyone know any good sites or books which are helpful for blogging?
New years eve, ended predictably with me in bed by ten, although I was up again at midnight cleaning my teeth because I'd forgotten. Not that I'd have been able to sleep with the NASA rockets going off in our next door neighbours garden. Good grief.
This year I'm really going to work at taking better pictures, the light in my house is a bit iffy (any old excuse!) and I'm not entirely sure how to use all the settings on my camera but but, I'm going to strive for better pics!
OK, so the main aim of this post was to go through some blog features that I've been mulling over for a while, there's a few I'm still umming and ahhing over, which I'd really like your opinions on. Don't be shy, if you hate the idea of some of them say, because although this is a personal blog I want to feature posts that I know my readers will like.  I've started off doing A Week in Pictures which I'm carrying on for the new year, but here are my other new features for the new year.

Super-Saver Recipe

• I did start off doing this and promptly forgot that I'd started. Sometimes eating Gluten-Free can be a tad pricey so I'm going to aim to do a few of these posts a month to save everyone some pennies!

Gluten-Free Heroes

• Shops, bakeries, restaurants or people that are shouting loud about gluten-free food. 

'Ingredient' 2 Way's

• A different ingredient every month cooked 2 different ways, which I think will give me and everyone else a chance to try different recipes, I'll probably post the ingredient in advance so if you have any recipes or ideas you can comment or email me.

Blogger of the Month

• A different blog and it's author, once a month. Established, niche or a brand spanking new blog, my favourite will get featured with the low down on what their blogs about and who they are. If you know a great blog or you want me to feature your blog let me know.

I'm also going to feature more reviews of products and restaurants, and a FAQ page so if there's anything you want to ask me the answer will be featured on that page. I also want to do a post called Wonderful You which will feature one of my lovely readers and their recipe of choice, although obviously if no-one submits any recipes this will be ever so slightly redundant so we'll see how it goes!

Katie-Boo k