Banana Upside-Down Cake

This treat was inspired by a banana tart from British restauranteur Simon Rimmer in his cookbook The Accidental Vegetarian. This version however is a little more cost-concious with fewer bananas and easier to make with a batter rather than a puff pastry base.

Mushroom Tartlets

Sophisticated mushrooms, aged parmesan cheese and fragrant rosemary will bring style to your next dinner party with these savoury little tartlets. Incorporating puff pastry shells also add a fanciful aesthetic to these appetizers. 

Gluten Intolerance

I've been having digestive problems most of my life, but especially so for the last two years. I originally started trying to eat more gluten free grains in order to have a more rounded diet that included a variety of grains, but I've noticed that my digestive system has been a lot better. I've tested it out a couple times - eating gluten after not eating it for several days - and I would very quickly start to have a lot of pain in my abdomen. This has pretty well confirmed that I have developed a gluten allergy. (My doctor has tested me to be sure its not Celiac.) So, I am going to be continuing my exploration and learning about how to successfully bake with gluten free grains (just more balanced with protein and vegetables than I have been lately) and will be posting the knowledge I gain through these experiments.

I am also in the process of developing some key resources for gluten free cooking and will be posting them and updating them as necessary.

Thanksgiving Roasted Cornish Game Hen

Since I live alone, and my family are spread across the globe (I have siblings in Alaska and France!), my Thanksgiving can be pretty lonely. Sometimes I spend it with friend's families, but not every year. This year is one of those years. So, an entire Turkey is kind of ridiculous for just one person! I'd be eating left over turkey for a month. Thus, I make myself a roasted game hen instead. Their only a few bucks and a decent size for one person, and with sides I even have some leftovers for the next day.

Barefeet in the Kitchen's GF Sandwich Bread

I just discovered this blog today, and am excited about it! Barefeet in the Kitchen is the food blog of Mary and her three boys, and is now a gluten free blog. I'm looking forward to trying out her recipes and learning from her experiences converting to gluten free. This recipe below is a wonderful staple for any gluten free home. Her Tender High Rise Gluten Free Sandwich Bread is the first real success I've had with baking anything gluten free that is supposed to rise. I've copied her recipe below (with my milk free substitute), for reference only, in a different colour font, and my notes. Please DO see her original post for detailed directions and photos for the steps as this recipe does have a few details that are important and she has had multiple questions about the recipe, which she answers in her comments.