What is coeliac disease I hear you ask - well, it's an auto-immune disease (simply, the body attacks itself - ick!). Coeliacs need to avoid gluten - a protein that is in heaps of foods including wheat, rye, barley and oats. Basically their bodies don't like these foods.
Imagine how hard it would be if you couldn't eat any of those foods! I know that I am just very grateful for my not-so-serious wheat and dairy intolerances.
But I draw this to your attention for 2 reasons. First, next week (13-20 March) is Coeliac Awareness Week.
And second {and MOST importantly}, my friend Melinda - from Melinda's Gluten Free Goodies - has launched a new iPhone app to help all of you who have friends who are coeliac {or have other food allergies}. YAY I hear you say! A simple solution for those of us who scratch our heads and wonder what to cook when entertaining our food-allergy-prone friends.
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But if this all sounds too hard, you can also buy one of Melinda's delicious sweet or savoury pre-mixes. Now, you mostly know that I'm not a fan of the pre-mix, but when Melinda gave me a few samples, I had to try them {actually, I delegated the cooking bit!}. My coeliac cousin was visiting, spied the pretty pink boxes, and whipped up the Sweet Caramel Cakes and the Lemon Curd Delights. In about 2 minutes flat. For afternoon tea. Her verdict - quick, easy and so, so delicious.
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| Melinda's savoury range - the pepper and chive crackers are my favourite! |
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| YUM! Home-baked Melinda's goodies. |
So, down to business. The competition. Tell me in 25 words or less what your biggest challenge is when cooking for people with food allergies or intolerances.
The best answer will win a $100 worth of Melinda's Gluten Free Goodies. The next 4 top answers will win a free download of the Allergy Free Entertaining App.
Competition closes on Thursday 31 March 2011. ENTER NOW!
Read the fine print.
PS Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you if you want to enter the comp {so I can contact you if you win!} - either link to your website or email me mel AT melkettle.com.au
10 comments:
Weddings! We had four (yep, four!) coeliac guests, so had help from a GF baker to make an entirely gluten-free (and organic) cake!
When cooking for my coeliac friend Phil, I somehow remember the big stuff eg lasangna sheets, but then forget about either nibbles or dessert, so end up starving him in some way - doh
I am gluten/wheat/diary intolerant and have just found out I can't have soy either. So when you want to make a quick meal it is often difficult to get variety.
I'm always scared of the little ingredients you don't think of like a tsp of sauce that you have to check if it's gluten free or not.
great competition Mel!
Well, you already know I cook and bake everything Gluten Free. And most of the recipes taken from my blog are people who cook the same way. There are a lot of us out there :) I'll have to have a look for this app though, great idea.
Going out to restaurants. Often it will be gluten-free, but then smothered in cheese or chilli. (I have several intolerances). Some chefs just don't take you seriously.
The more intolerances people have the harder it is to cook for them. A lot of glutenfree cooking uses eggs, but what if you can’t eat eggs!
finding school lunch that my 5yo coeliac will actually eat -he refuses all bread and wrap alternatives. At least he loves Melinda's treats...
Thanks to all of you for entering!!
The winner is....
Claire Kelly!!!
Because that is what I also always struggle with too when entertaining.
Runners up:
Liz
Alicia
Kylie C
Sassy Individual
Please all email me at mel.kettle@gmail.com with your details so I can get your prizes to you.
THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!!
And stay tuned for more competitions in the future.
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