<link>http://www.strandsofmylife.com</link> <description>Receive my newsletter</description> <lastBuildDate>Mon, 20 May 2013 09:09:18 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1</generator> <atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/StrandsOfMyLife" /><feedburner:info uri="strandsofmylife" /><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="hub" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" /><feedburner:emailServiceId>StrandsOfMyLife</feedburner:emailServiceId><feedburner:feedburnerHostname>http://feedburner.google.com</feedburner:feedburnerHostname><item> <title>Lemon Polenta Cake with Lemon Curd & Meringue – gluten-free http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StrandsOfMyLife/~3/vXIaiQzbrDc/ http://www.strandsofmylife.com/lemon-polenta-cake-with-lemon-curd-meringue-gluten-free/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 09:09:18 +0000 Suzanne http://www.strandsofmylife.com/?p=5474

Lemon Polenta Cake - gluten-free

I had my first day at a new job today. There is always trepidation with such a change, that anxiety about the unknown. Fortunately, I thrive on change and don’t stay around too long if I am discontent. Life is too short to dread getting up in the morning because of work. I didn’t feel [...]

Lemon Polenta Cake with Lemon Curd & Meringue – gluten-free

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Lemon Polenta Cake - gluten-free

Lemon Polenta Cake - gluten-freeC.Joybell C. QuoteI had my first day at a new job today. There is always trepidation with such a change, that anxiety about the unknown. Fortunately, I thrive on change and don't stay around too long if I am discontent. Life is too short to dread getting up in the morning because of work. I didn't feel like that about my last job but it no longer challenged me so I have moved on. But to get back to my first day - it was good. They have just gone on the cloud so I was learning alongside others what differences this entailed. This has upset many of the members of the firm who get set in their routines but I thrive when learning new things, especially where technology is concerned. I wanted a challenge and a challenge is what I have found. The cake I baked in the weekend was also a challenge. Like my last offering, Banana peanut butter meringue bars, I needed gelatin to make sure the lemon curd was firm enough not to run everywhere when the cake was sliced so I asked Adriano to buy some at a big supermarket on his way home from a race he won down country. He was obviously distracted by his moment in the sun and completely forgot my vital gelatin. You would think the gelatin had a curse on it. I made the lemon curd anyway, crossing my fingers it would firm up enough but decided at the last moment to add some dissolved tapioca flour and that worked - but only just. It has behaved nicely for the photos but the cake really needs to be eaten with a spoon or you end up with lemon curd and meringue all over your face. The meringue wasn't planned for the cake but I had plenty left over from my last offering so I piled it on top and grilled it briefly to give it some colour. This is a tasty cake with many of my favourite things all in one place. [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:50] Lemon Polenta Cake - gluten-free Afternoon Tea - cookbook for food intolerances

Lemon Polenta Cake with Lemon Curd & Meringue – gluten-free

]]> http://www.strandsofmylife.com/lemon-polenta-cake-with-lemon-curd-meringue-gluten-free/feed/ 16 http://www.strandsofmylife.com/lemon-polenta-cake-with-lemon-curd-meringue-gluten-free/ Banana peanut butter meringue bars – gluten and grain-free http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StrandsOfMyLife/~3/hq2CVPciULM/ http://www.strandsofmylife.com/banana-peanut-butter-meringue-bars-gluten-and-grain-free/#comments Sat, 18 May 2013 08:31:16 +0000 Suzanne http://www.strandsofmylife.com/?p=5447

Banana peanut butter meringue bars - gluten & grain-free

I had a hankering for marshmallow this weekend so I planned this recipe with marshmallow instead of the meringue on top but I couldn’t find gelatin at my supermarket. They said they had not renewed the order because it was a slow seller. But how can you make marshmallow without gelatin? You can’t, is the [...]

Banana peanut butter meringue bars – gluten and grain-free

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Banana peanut butter meringue bars - gluten & grain-free

Banana peanut butter meringue bars - gluten & grain-freeWoody Allen Quote Banana peanut butter meringue bars - gluten & grain-freeI had a hankering for marshmallow this weekend so I planned this recipe with marshmallow instead of the meringue on top but I couldn't find gelatin at my supermarket. They said they had not renewed the order because it was a slow seller. But how can you make marshmallow without gelatin? You can't, is the answer. Marshmallow is only water, sugar and gelatin. You can't remove one of the three ingredients and hope to have the same result. Is this indicative of the lack of baking that is going on in homes today? I hope not because that would be sad. So, plan B was to make meringue, which is also white and frothy. And it's another of those satisfying processes where you start with one thing and end up with something else completely. I always get a childlike pleasure out of watching the change happen. And then, of course, I get to eat the results. Just as a reminder to those who think I shouldn't be eating sugar because I have fructose malabsortption, I will explain again how I get away with it. Table sugar is 50% fructose and 50% glucose. The glucose holds the hands of the fructose molecules and pulls them through the walls of the small intestine to safety so they don't reach the large intestine, where the problem occurs. In honey, for example, there is a high percentage of fructose so some fructose molecules are left over and float on down to the large intestine to play havoc there. However, this doesn't mean I can eat as much table sugar as I want. The glucose molecules do get tired of doing this and will go on strike if I eat too much. So it's a balancing act. I find that one sweet treat at morning tea is about the limit, but that's fine. Who needs more than that anyway? The waistline would expand rather rapidly if I had more than that even if it didn't cause me problems. On a completely different note, you will see that I have changed my blog theme.  This has been a tough decision because I loved the last theme but I really do need a sidebar and that theme didn't allow it unless I was the superman of coding, and that is not the case.  I have taken the easy route and changed to a theme which is as similar as possible. But, even with this, I had to get into the FTP files which are on my webhost's control panel to change out the main header image on the home page. Some of you might have seen it was not populated for about 12 hours while I worked out how to do this. I even went to bed in the middle because 2 am is not a respectable time to be up bug-eyed staring at a computer. I finally figured it out but there is a way to go before the site is respectable. I love the blog pages once you click into them but the home page is a bit blah. I want photos instead of words for the posts. I have left a question on the theme forum but it seems no one knows the answer because silence is the stern reply. Now what? Oh, the joys of blog ownership!! As far as the recipe is concerned, you can buy the coconut flour here, the rice syrup here. The base recipe was adapted from here. [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:49] Banana peanut butter meringue bars - gluten & grain-free Afternoon Tea - cookbook for food intolerances

Banana peanut butter meringue bars – gluten and grain-free

]]> http://www.strandsofmylife.com/banana-peanut-butter-meringue-bars-gluten-and-grain-free/feed/ 15 http://www.strandsofmylife.com/banana-peanut-butter-meringue-bars-gluten-and-grain-free/ Coconut & Oats Cookies – gluten-free & low FODMAP http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StrandsOfMyLife/~3/GT_SJDJhmBU/ http://www.strandsofmylife.com/coconut-oats-cookies/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 09:25:49 +0000 Suzanne http://www.strandsofmylife.com/?p=5412

Coconut & Oats Cookies -gluten-free & low FODMAP

There’s a lovely blog, My Darling Lemon Thyme, which I have followed since well before I knew what my food intolerances were and now it is coming in useful because Emma’s recipes are gluten-free. At this point, I need to explain something. I know I call my recipes gluten-free and they are, but I am [...]

Coconut & Oats Cookies – gluten-free & low FODMAP

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Coconut & Oats Cookies -gluten-free & low FODMAP

Coconut & Oats Cookies -gluten-free & low FODMAPBarbara Jordan Quote There's a lovely blog, My Darling Lemon Thyme, which I have followed since well before I knew what my food intolerances were and now it is coming in useful because Emma's recipes are gluten-free. At this point, I need to explain something. I know I call my recipes gluten-free and they are, but I am not gluten intolerant. Confused? Gluten is the protein part of grains like wheat but I am intolerant to the fructans (the sugar part) in wheat, rye and barley. Fructans are chains of fructose molecules with a glucose molecule at the end. However, it's easier to say I am gluten-free because few understand the fructan story. Fructans and fructose are closely related and most people who are fructose intolerant are also intolerant to fructans. But I am not intolerant to gluten. Is that as clear as mud? Anyway, back to My Darling Lemon Thyme, I found this recipe or almost this recipe there. By reducing the sugar and removing the dried cranberries, I was able to make it also low in fructose. Emma's recipe is here. You can buy the brown rice flour here. [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:48] Coconut & Oats Cookies -gluten-free & low FODMAP Afternoon Tea - cookbook for food intolerances

Coconut & Oats Cookies – gluten-free & low FODMAP

]]> http://www.strandsofmylife.com/coconut-oats-cookies/feed/ 14 http://www.strandsofmylife.com/coconut-oats-cookies/ Lemon Muffins – Gluten-free & low FODMAP http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StrandsOfMyLife/~3/BSBB8uLulu4/ http://www.strandsofmylife.com/lemon-muffins-gluten-free-low-fodmap/#comments Sun, 12 May 2013 03:44:01 +0000 Suzanne http://www.strandsofmylife.com/?p=5388

Low FODMAP Chart of allowed foods

My muffins are definitely getting better. I adapted these ones from a recipe at The Balanced Platter for lemon and coconut cupcakes. I left off the icing because of the overload of sugar and removed the coconut because I had none left. They are soft and moist which is more than I can say for [...]

Lemon Muffins – Gluten-free & low FODMAP

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Low FODMAP Chart of allowed foods

Lemon Muffins - Gluten-free & low FODMAPJulia Child quoteMy muffins are definitely getting better. I adapted these ones from a recipe at The Balanced Platter for lemon and coconut cupcakes. I left off the icing because of the overload of sugar and removed the coconut because I had none left. They are soft and moist which is more than I can say for some of my early gluten-free attempts. One of the issues with gluten-free baking is that it doesn't last longer than a few days so it is a good idea to freeze them individually and use them as you need them. If you are taking one to work for morning tea like me, it will have defrosted by the time you need it. If you have a hankering to eat one immediately, then pop it in the microwave and it will come out soft and delicious. By the way, you can buy the brown rice flour here and potato starch here. My husband is confused about what I can eat and what I can't and marinated a pork loin in a garlic mixture on Friday night. I took two bites before I realized and freaked out - with reason because there was a reaction, which is only just righting itself today, Sunday. I have now made a chart for him. You can see it below the recipe. This is according to the book, Food Intolerance Management Plan by Dr Sue Shepherd, who is considered a forerunner authority on the low FODMAP diet and works together with the Monash University which does some of the most cutting edge research on food intolerances. [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:47] Low FODMAP Chart of allowed foods Lemon Muffins - Gluten-free & low FODMAP Afternoon Tea - cookbook for food intolerances

Lemon Muffins – Gluten-free & low FODMAP

]]> http://www.strandsofmylife.com/lemon-muffins-gluten-free-low-fodmap/feed/ 16 http://www.strandsofmylife.com/lemon-muffins-gluten-free-low-fodmap/ Mother’s Day Wishlist! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StrandsOfMyLife/~3/B3HM7xXzocs/ http://www.strandsofmylife.com/mother-day-wishlist/#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 07:37:22 +0000 Suzanne http://www.strandsofmylife.com/?p=5341

Mother's Day Wishlist!

Dario always gets me something for Mother’s Day and I have had some amazingly unusual gifts in the past, all of which I have kept. But this year I thought I would use this blog to put a wishlist out there into the ether, and who knows, maybe you can all find something here too. [...]

Mother’s Day Wishlist!

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Mother's Day Wishlist!

Dario always gets me something for Mother's Day and I have had some amazingly unusual gifts in the past, all of which I have kept. But this year I thought I would use this blog to put a wishlist out there into the ether, and who knows, maybe you can all find something here too. I wandered about Amazon and came up with some great deals (in some cases enormous discounts) and some very stingy ones - one had a 99 cent discount on a $349.99 product. Why bother with all the paperwork? But it was the cutest item on my wishlist so I have kept it there. This is it and then lots of other cool stuff, including a raspberry version, below it. Afternoon Tea - cookbook for food intolerances

Mother’s Day Wishlist!

]]> http://www.strandsofmylife.com/mother-day-wishlist/feed/ 8 http://www.strandsofmylife.com/mother-day-wishlist/ Vanilla, Chocolate Cake – gluten-free & low FODMAP http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StrandsOfMyLife/~3/DUTGPjhPqdU/ http://www.strandsofmylife.com/vanilla-chocolate-cake-gluten-free-low-fodmap/#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 09:49:49 +0000 Suzanne http://www.strandsofmylife.com/?p=5326

Chocolate, Vanilla Cake – gluten-free & low FODMAP

I have been determined to make a gluten-free sponge cake and I thought this recipe might be it but it wasn’t. Adriano is really enjoying it for breakfast but he prefers a dense cake and this one was that. It looks tall and pretty and it is disappearing really fast but it isn’t a sponge. [...]

Vanilla, Chocolate Cake – gluten-free & low FODMAP

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Chocolate, Vanilla Cake – gluten-free & low FODMAP

Chocolate, Vanilla Cake – gluten-free & low FODMAPDave Barry Quote I have been determined to make a gluten-free sponge cake and I thought this recipe might be it but it wasn't. Adriano is really enjoying it for breakfast but he prefers a dense cake and this one was that. It looks tall and pretty and it is disappearing really fast but it isn't a sponge. I got the recipe at www.lowfodmap.com. This week hasn't been great for me. I tried introducing garlic to my diet and I haven't been feeling the best since but there could be any of a number of factors affecting that, so I will go back on a pure FODMAP diet for a bit longer and then try again. [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:46] Chocolate, Vanilla Cake – gluten-free & low FODMAP Afternoon Tea - cookbook for food intolerances

Vanilla, Chocolate Cake – gluten-free & low FODMAP

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