New To This! Any Celiacs/gluten Free In Uk?

[rarchy]

Have you guys been trying out gluten-free mince pies yet?

Don't bother with the Tesco ones (very dry and crumbly and not much filling), however the Sainsburys ones I really recommend (good pastry and lots of filling). I will also be making my own this weekend!

[rarchy]

On 28/11/2017 at 3:06 PM, cristiana said:

And well done, Morrisons.

 

Interesting as I have checked in my local Morrisons twice recently for Mince Pies and they never have any. I might contact them to complain!

 

[Jmg]

7 minutes ago, rarchy said:

Have you guys been trying out gluten-free mince pies yet?

Don't bother with the Tesco ones (very dry and crumbly and not much filling), however the Sainsburys ones I really recommend (good pastry and lots of filling). I will also be making my own this weekend!

The story so far...

asda, cheapest I've seen at 1.50 for 4. They look the part but they have the same issues as you've highlighted with Tesco's. They are quite similar to the coop ones, so much so they may be made by the same supplier.  I have a box of the tesco but not yet eaten them...

Aldi, 1.59 and very good. Pastry is thinner, filling is has nice hint of spice. Already bought another box as they will doubtless sell out. 

What I crave is the iced version from sainsburys, I will have to get some as they were a highlight of last xmas.

also currently enjoying a Yule log cake from asda. Very chocolatey and icing is nice.  Ho, Ho, Ho...

[cristiana]

On 12/6/2017 at 1:21 PM, Jmg said:

The story so far...

asda, cheapest I've seen at 1.50 for 4. They look the part but they have the same issues as you've highlighted with Tesco's. They are quite similar to the coop ones, so much so they may be made by the same supplier.  I have a box of the tesco but not yet eaten them...

Aldi, 1.59 and very good. Pastry is thinner, filling is has nice hint of spice. Already bought another box as they will doubtless sell out. 

What I crave is the iced version from sainsburys, I will have to get some as they were a highlight of last xmas.

also currently enjoying a Yule log cake from asda. Very chocolatey and icing is nice.  Ho, Ho, Ho...

Ahoy there Fellow Mince Pie Fanciers!

Yes, I have to say that the iced mince pies from Sainsburys top the bill -  mind you, probably not for the purist, or those who do not have a sweet tooth.  I am ashamed to say I think I have consumed five boxes since November!!  Nothing piles on the pounds quicker than those iced mince pies.

The Costa mince pie, as mentioned previously, is a triumph.

I agree about Tescos, but I think they are completely free from, aren't they? - I do think it is difficult to make a mince pie taste good without butter, unless of course it is iced as per Sainsburys.

The Marks and Spencer ones have a 'sticker' on them this year to point out that it is a "New Recipe".  As some old acquaintance said to me years ago, this normally means it doesn't taste so good as the original and I'm afraid that on this occasion I'd say that was true.

That's a great tip about Asda's Yule Log, JMG.  Are nearest is over the county border in Hampshire, so I think I'll have to make my own.  I use a normal recipe, but with Doves SR flour, and the secret is a large dollop of rich chocolatey butter cream to decorate.  

 

 

[Jmg]

23 hours ago, cristiana said:

I have to say that the iced mince pies from Sainsburys top the bill -  mind you, probably not for the purist, or those who do not have a sweet tooth.

Do these legendary creatures truly exist? I'd thought they were merely a fairy tale. In any case, I'll claim their share...

 

23 hours ago, cristiana said:

The Costa mince pie, as mentioned previously, is a triumph.

This is on my list. Although since Wetherspoons introduced their new free refill coffee machine I've yet to cross a Costa doorway. The black coffee from it is lovely and free refills for 1.20 means I'm in caffeine heaven. God knows what the lunchtime beer drinkers make of me gibbering excitedly over the prospect of a black coffee...

23 hours ago, cristiana said:

I agree about Tescos, but I think they are completely free from, aren't they? - I do think it is difficult to make a mince pie taste good without butter, unless of course it is iced as per Sainsburys.

Yeah the Tesco  ones are. I'm on a new quest to stay milk free as well though so its good news for me. It's not easy though, there appears tos be milk in a lot of the xmas cakes.

23 hours ago, cristiana said:

The Marks and Spencer ones have a 'sticker' on them this year to point out that it is a "New Recipe".  As some old acquaintance said to me years ago, this normally means it doesn't taste so good as the original and I'm afraid that on this occasion I'd say that was true.

I associate them with the best of gluten-free foods but I think they weren't so great the other year either? Disappointing news either way.

23 hours ago, cristiana said:

That's a great tip about Asda's Yule Log, JMG.  Are nearest is over the county border in Hampshire, so I think I'll have to make my own.  I use a normal recipe, but with Doves SR flour, and the secret is a large dollop of rich chocolatey butter cream to decorate.  

I should do this more. At the moment the best I can manage is Asdas brownie mix which doubles as a kind of chocolate pudding when microwaved and matched with Alpro's soy custard

 

[cristiana]

Hi JMG

I'll send you some iced mince pies if you cannot find any! Nil desperandum!  They are in the larger stores so they must be elsewhere - maybe you need to try a bigger branch?  There is a small one near us and it had none...

The other bit of good news is Cadbury's Heros has the chunks in it this Christmas.  And guess what - a nut warning, but no gluten warning!  Yippee! Cadburys Daily Milk is back on the menu.

I gather much of their chocolate with wheat in it is not made in the UK.  The stuff without is made here.  Don't know how true that is. 

Mind you ... they do contain milk...

 

[cristiana]

Thank you Tescos!

Some decent, gluten free, OAT FREE (yay, I'm one of the 10-20% who can't handle them) Christmas shortbread.

Delicious!  If you are reading, Tescos, please keep more of your products oat free, then 10-20% more of us will buy them!

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/297117886

 

[Jmg]

On 12/9/2017 at 3:12 PM, cristiana said:

I'll send you some iced mince pies if you cannot find any! Nil desperandum!

That's such a lovely offer I'm almost sad to tell you I'm now the proud owner of 3 boxes  but thanks so much in any case. That was really nice of you.

On 12/9/2017 at 3:12 PM, cristiana said:

Cadburys Daily Milk is back on the menu.

Wow is that the case for all Dairy milk or just the Heroes? That this comes just as I'm trying to kick the milk habit properly is just....

#counts to ten

#takes deep breaths,

er, annoying. I could munch a whole bar of it and I don't mean a small bar either...

I went to Morrisons the other day. Couldn't find much xmas stuff at first until I found a separate display away from the free from section with mince pies, cakes and a rather lovely looking biscuit selection quite similar to the one you've linked. There were truffles also and even chocolate coins, the ones in the gold foil wrapping. Quite  a nice selection.

I went with the mince pies to continue the quest. I think they're a winner.  Not as floury as the tesco or asda, a decent amount of filling and the flavour isn't as strong as the aldi. They look nice too...

[cristiana]

On 12/14/2017 at 9:12 AM, Jmg said:

I went to Morrisons the other day. Couldn't find much xmas stuff at first until I found a separate display away from the free from section with mince pies, cakes and a rather lovely looking biscuit selection quite similar to the one you've linked. There were truffles also and even chocolate coins, the ones in the gold foil wrapping. Quite  a nice selection.

I went with the mince pies to continue the quest. I think they're a winner.  Not as floury as the tesco or asda, a decent amount of filling and the flavour isn't as strong as the aldi. They look nice too...

Well, having trawled through mountains of mince pies I have concluded Sainsburys and Costa deserve joint first prize for the standard type; Sainsburys for the iced type.

But the problem is the latter sold out days before Christmas.

I didn't get to eat a Morrissons pie, nor an Asda one (if they do them).  

What do you think, JMG?

[cristiana]

https://www.twinings.co.uk/hot-chocolate-coffee-other-drinks/hot-chocolate-and-malt-drinks/twinings-swiss-chocolate-drink

Have discovered this drink - it's great, labelled gluten free and is also fortified.   I can't drink too much milk as I get bloated, but find it tastes really nice even made mostly with hot water and just a small amount of milk.  Thank you Twinings.

[Jmg]

Saw this the other day:

http://metro.co.uk/2018/01/22/a-full-belly-without-breaking-the-bank-8-of-the-best-cheap-gluten-free-eats-in-london-7247612/

While since I've been in the smoke, but it may be useful for you lily livered southern types

 

[cristiana]

You are very welcome!  I'm just sorry when Easter ends because it means I can't eat Dairy Milk for another year ... I just wish Cadburys would make all their Dairy Milk chocolate gluten-free, not just their eggs!