Tasty Treats to Try!

We're always on the look out for products and recipes to get Sous Chef J to try new foods... and were pleased to be offered the chance to try out some of Udi's Gluten Free goods.

First to be tried were the bagels - we had Cinnamon and Raisin.  They were toasted for a quick breakfast alternative.  Sous Chef J did try them but he's more of a porridge eating chap.  Luckily, B was on hand to polish off the bagels and was very pleased to be able to 'assist'!

 

The Bagel Chips were more of a success with Sous Chef J as he usually prefers crispy foods.  He liked the "not too cinnamony cinnamon".  We stored the chips for snack purposes and Sous Chef J suggested using them as a simple and quick Rhubarb 'crumble' topping - it worked very well, adding a spicy crunch to our pud.

Looking at the two-pack of muffins - they are different in that there was one toffee flavour and one chocolate chip... luckily J opted for toffee and B and I shared the 'half calorie' choc chip one.  It was good to see an even distribution of the choc chips throughout the muffin.  The muffins were judged to be 'lovely'.

As a favourite lunch here is dips, the Ancient Grain Crisps were very well received.  Sous Chef J does not have a preferred variety - he thought both flavours were great.

We even managed to eat outside when the sun was shining... and we think food always tastes better in the fresh air.  Plus you can top up your vitamin D whilst you're there (something we're keen on at the moment).

Finally, we got round to trying the "soft and chewy Strawberry Flavoured Breakfast Bars"...these come individually wrapped and reminded me of rather large fig rolls!  J liked them and we'll be taking them on trips out as they're so handy for places that still do not offer gluten free options.

We checked out Udi's in our local Sainsbury's and found there is a selection of their products on sale.  Our friends (who are, very kindly, always on the look out for gluten free items for us) tell us Tesco also stock a range of products including the Ancient Grain crisps.


Disclosure - we were sent a box of products to try but were not required to write a review.  The views expressed are our own.  We were not paid for this post.

Stir Fried Kale

This stir fried kale dish was decided upon when our veg box provided a bag of kale and a 'free' red chilli.  Sous Chef J liked the idea of "something spicy" and we decided to try using it with kale.












We gathered the ingredients and prepared them for cooking.  To do this, the kale was washed and sliced and the garlic and chilli were chopped.

Next, some oil was placed in a frying pan and heated before adding the garlic and chilli.

Once the garlic and chilli was sizzling nicely, the chopped kale was added with a dash of gluten free soy sauce (tamari).

After a few minutes, the kale had fried well and the chilli and garlic was mixed through.

We served the kale with some steamed salmon and purple sprouting broccoli. 

A very quick and easy way to serve kale with a spicy kick!

Simple Salmon Fishcakes

It's a bit of a stretch to call this a recipe... it's more of a matter of assembling things!  A simple store-cupboard meal which we enjoy and hope you will too. 

The ingredients (if you can call them that) are a tin of salmon, one egg, some left over root vegetable mash and freshly ground black pepper.






After draining the tinned salmon, the bones and skin were removed.

The salmon was then mixed in with the mashed vegetables and seasoned well.

Next, the salmon/mash mix was formed into little patties/fishcakes using a silicone measuring cup... you could also use ramekins, spoons or your hands to do this.

Once formed, the fishcakes were coated in beaten egg.

Having heated some butter and oil in a frying pan, the fishcakes were cooked until golden brown.

We served our fishcakes with steamed broccoli florets this time but peas, sweetcorn or a green salad would also work well.