Gluten Free Expo - Caulfield Race Course - 15 September 2012

The Coeliac Society of Victoria & Tasmania are the organisers of the Gluten Free Expo to be held at Caulfield Race Course, Melbourne on Saturday 15 September, 2012, 9:30 to 4:00.

This is a one day event only. Adult Entry Fee is $10 (Coeliac Society Members $5)

Full Expo details at http://www.glutenfreeexpovic-tas.org.au/

Coeliac Society of Victoria & Tasmania at http://www.coeliac.org.au/vic-tas/

We will be going along to check out new gluten free products. See You there!

Alpha Confectionery Is Back!

Great news for lovers of Alpha Confectionery chocolates!!

If you are someone who enjoyed the range of gluten, dairy and nut free chocolates produced by Alpha Confectionery but was disappointed to see the products disappear from shelves (and their St. Kilda location close), then this will be great news.

We were recently contacted by the new owner of Alpha Confectionery to let us know that they are back in business!

Alpha has a new location in Moorabbin and production is underway of the:

• Classic Plums
• Apricot Royales
• Flavoured Creams
• Cooking chocolate.
• Easter eggs (will be coming soon.)

Distribution is being arranged and we will let you know the stockists on this page soon.

Alpha Confectionery Australia Pty Ltd
14 Capella Crs
Moorabbin, Victoria 3189
Phone  03 9555 0030
www.alphaconfectionery.com.au (Currently under construction)

See our other mentions of Alpha Confectionery on this blog:

• Dairy Free Easter Eggs 2007
• Dairy Free Easter Eggs 2008

Cupcake Central - Gluten & Dairy Free

We were visiting Melbourne Central recently and while on the hunt in the food court for something for lunch, we noticed that Cupcake Central had a gluten free and vegan chocolate cupcake available amongst their huge selection of cupcakes.

The cupcake had a very creamy, smooth frosting on top of a very light spongy cupcake.
Very delicious!  I will be dropping by to try out their other gluten free and vegan cupcakes when I can.
Their baking calendar shows that they make a different gluten free & vegan cupcake each day. The Autumn 2012 schedule is:

• Chocolate gluten free & vegan: Monday & Saturday
• Lemon gluten free & vegan: Tuesday & Friday
• Choc Peanut gluten free & vegan: Wednesday & Sunday
• Coconut gluten free & vegan: Thursday

Not only were the staff able to show me an ingredients list for the cupcake when I asked, but most impressively, they used tongs that were dedicated to the gluten free, vegan cupcakes when handling my order!

We'll Done Cupcake Central!!

ps. One gluten free & vegan Chocolate cupcake was about $4

Website: www.cupcakecentral.com.au
Email:  info@cupcakecentral.com.au
Phone: 03 9077 4542
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cupcake_central

Cupcake Central has a location at Melbourne Central and another in Hawthorn.


View Cupcake Central in a larger map

Dairy Free Easter Eggs 2012

As usual, finding dairy free Easter eggs is never easy, but there are options available.

Here are some of the Dairy Free Easter eggs that I have seen in 2012.

Lindt

Lindt is one of my favourites as it is available in many places including supermarkets, Big W etc.

The Dark Chocolate Bunnies are really nice; 60% cocoa and come in 100g and 200g sizes. Be careful to only buy the DARK Chocolate version with the BROWN ribbon as this one is dairy free. (RED ribbon is the most common but is MILK chocolate; WHITE ribbon is for WHITE chocolate)

The Dark Easter Eggs are 70% cocoa.

Is Lindt chocolate Gluten free?
You'll need to read the Lindt Chocolate FAQ and make your own decision.

Macro Wholefoods Market @ Woolworths

You should be able to find the Macro Easter Bunny which is Lactose Free in the Macro Wholefoods Market section of your local Woolworths.
They also have versions that are Nut Free and another that has No Added Sugar.

Around $7.00 for the 130g bunny

http://www.woolworths.com.au

Kinnerton

Kinnerton are a specialty Nut Free chocolate manufacturer but they also have a few products that are Dairy Free like this egg combo that I saw at David Jones for $19.95.

For the rest of the year, blocks of the Kinnerton chocolate is available in Big W & David Jones stores. (Cheaper at Big W)

Kinnerton - http://www.kinnerton.com.au

Available from David Jones - http://www.davidjones.com.au/

Darrell Lea

Darrell Lea have a couple of options.
Mini Easter Bunnies, pack of 12, 155g total. These are individually wrapped Easter Bunny heads and are Nut free, Dairy free and Gluten free.

There is also a larger, 45g Bunny.

These are only available in Darrell Lea stores and are manufactured in the dedicated NUT FREE facility by Sweet William (see below).
Darrell Lea - http://www.dlea.com.au

Sweet William

"Sweet William is an innovative dairy free chocolate company that produces a range of exceptionally delicious chocolate products which are dairy free, gluten free, nut free and cholesterol free."

Available from Safeway, Coles and IGA in Victoria.
Sweet William - http://www.sweetwilliam.com.au

Alpha Confectionery

In the past we have written about Alpha Confectionery and how wonderful their dairy free chocolate was. Unfortunately, it seems that they may no longer be in business (Their St. Kilda location has been vacated). What a shame. I really miss their Easter Eggs.

See Also:

• Dairy Free Easter Eggs - 2008
• Dairy Free Easter Eggs - 2007

Gluten Free Hot Cross Buns - Simply Wize

I first tried out the gluten free Hot Cross Buns from Simply Wize back before Easter 2011, and it is great to see them back in 2012. They are simply Yummy.

They have a really nice taste and the texture and balance of fruit and spice is delicious. The buns aren't large but are the perfect size for a quick snack or light breakfast for me.

At the end of Easter 2011 I made a raid on my local Coles and cleaned out all the remaining stock that they had. These 10 or so packets lasted me well into May!
Maybe Simply Wize could make a version of these for the rest of the year???

I have already purchased some of these this year from Sunnybrook. About $4.75 for a pack of 6

You should also be able to find these in the freezer section of your local Coles. (But only if I don't get there first)

I highly recommend these yummy Easter Buns. Have a very Happy Easter.

Simply Wize on the web at: www.momentumfoods.com.au

Melinda's Heavenly Chocolate Fudge Brownie

You can always find one or two packets of this brownie mix in our pantry.

It is fast and easy to make and is very delicious. The finished brownie doesn't last long in our house.

The box shows that the brownie is gluten free, wheat free and yeast free and the recipe only asks you to supply 2 extra large eggs and 120g of butter.

We like to make a dairy free version of the brownie and the recipe recommends using soya margarine for this. Instead of butter or margarine, we use a quarter of a cup plus two tablespoons of vegetable oil and find that this works well.

Update: Late in 2013, Melindas changed the recipe and combined all the ingredients into one packet. We still make a version that is also dairy free but with an additional step to separate out the chocolate chips.

Making the brownie couldn't be much easier. Our daughter often makes the brownie with only a little help from Mum or Dad.

1. Sift the brownie mix into a bowl and separate out the chocolate chips.
2. Melt the chocolate chips from the packet with the butter/oil in the microwave
3. Add the melted chocolate mix and two lightly beaten eggs
4. Mix it all together with a big spoon
5. Pour it into your lined baking tin
6. Bake

This takes only 10 minutes to mix and 20 minutes to bake (depending on how "fudgy" you like your brownie).

The result is a very addictive brownie. It's hard to stop at one piece.

If you need a gluten and dairy free treat, this is a fast and as delicious as they get. Thanks Melinda's!!

I buy these at our local Woolies or Coles for $5 to $6

See the Melinda's website for ingredients and their other great products.

Patties Gluten Free Lamingtons - New Improved Recipe

I have been a regular consumer of Patties Gluten Free Lamingtons for many years.
On a recent visit to the supermarket, I noticed the addition of "New Improved Recipe" to the packaging.

On tasting the "New Improved Recipe" I was immediately disappointed. In my opinion, the original recipe was perfect and did not need any "improvement". The new recipe is very different and I, sadly, won't be buying them again.

As you can see below, the ingredients list will show the differences.

Original Ingredients:
Sugar, reconstituted egg, strawberry jam [sugar, strawberries (40%), gelling agent (440), acidity regulator (330)]
coconut (9%) [contains preservative (220)], rice flour, starch (maize), water,
margarine [vegetable fats and oils(sunflower, canola, palm), salt, emulsifiers (471, 322 - sunflower), flavour, vitamins (a, d and e)],
cocoa (3%), vanilla flavour, raising agent (500), stabiliser (415).
Contains: Egg

New Ingredients:
Water, Sugar, Strawberry Jam [Sugar, Strawberries, Pectin, Citric acid], Dessicated Coconut (8%) [Coconut, Preservative (220-Sulphites)], Rice Flour, Maize starch,
Margarine [vegetable fats and oils, emulsifiers (322 - Soy, 471), antioxidant (306-Soy), Colours (160b, 100)],
Egg solids, Cocoa (2.5%), Potato starch, Sodium bicarbonate, Fruit fibre, Acidity regulator (450), Thickeners (415, 412), Humectant (420), Emulsifier (471, 475 - Soy), Natural Flavour.
Contains: Egg, Soybean products and added sulphites.

http://www.patties.com.au/our-brands/pattiesglutenfree.htm

What do you think? Tell us in the comments section below.