Make it Yourself... Where do I start?

When first diagnosed, I was overwhelmed.  Our entire pantry lived on the kitchen table for two weeks while I agonised over what I could use and what I had to donate to our adult daughter's flat!  I rang every 0800 number on the back of packets to make sure it was safe.  Google became my best friend. Every search started with:  does ........ contain gluten?  I stressed when the rest of the family made a sandwich with "normal" bread.  Watching as bread crumbs seems to settle everywhere.  I felt like all I did was moan about how they were all probably poisoning me!  And when I wasn't bombarding them with facts on gluten, I was in a constant state of wiping down the counter tops from any contamination.

Mike and I started Gluten Free Store, after looking at several business options.  Mike read up more and more on the effects of gluten, and seeing me stressing about being "safe", this one fitted so well with us, and it seemed an easy option for us to be gluten free rather than a mixed household.  Yaay!
We started making contacts in the gluten free community, and have met the nicest people, some of whom I will be posting about throughout this blog.

One day we met Neville and Judy Green, from Gluten Free Made Easy.  They popped around for a coffee, and brought some of their bread and the most divine Hot Cross Buns I have tasted.  I liked Judy and Neville instantly, but after I tasted their wonderful baking I fell in love with them!!!!  I could not wait to get on their course to find out how this fabulous food was possible.  And wow, what a day it was.  Neville and Judy have spent years developing fantastic recipes, that just work!  I don't know where they get the patience, but with both of them with 65 years experience between them in the catering and hospitality industry its obvious to see where their passion is.
Neville has been an executive chef in top hotels and restaurants and spent 15 years at Air New Zealand, catering for the 1st class on a variety of airlines.  And for me they offer a first class workshop.  They cover so much in the day course, with both Neville and Judy offering tips and advice as they turn out an outstanding array of wonderful baking.  They have worked on and altered recipes to cater for a variety of other intolerance's and allergens, and their tirelessness in improving and tweaking their recipes amazes me.

Having done the workshop, my confidence in baking has gone from strength to strength, and I can now whip up a loaf of bread, or make a fabulous sticky date pudding, and a batch of muffins or crackers, without even having to draw breath.  Their recipes just work, they just do!  If you are just starting out on your gluten free way of living or have been gf for years, for me I could not recommend Judy and Neville enough.  You can find them here. 
I promise you won't be disappointed, and your family and friends probably wont even be able to tell its GF!  

Gluten Free Bread

 

Gluten Free Pastry

Gluten Free Muffins

Gluten Free Bread Rolls

Welcome

Hello everyone and welcome to our first post on our blog.  We are hoping to be posting lots of helpful advice and recipes here, as we do on our facebook page, and website, and hope you will join us!
Its been a busy year for us so far, and Mike in particular has been working tirelessly behind the scenes, developing a couple of pre-mixes as well as the whole day to day running of Gluten Free Store Ltd.
Not only that but always on the lookout and sourcing new products to bring to you, so that you and your families can enjoy gluten free baking and cooking without having to take out a second mortgage.  We know only too well how hard it can be (especially at first) going gluten free, and as for most of us its not a choice, trying to keep the grocery budget from completely blowing out can be a daunting task.  That's why we try to be as competitive as possible to bring you  products at great prices.  And why when we have a great recipe or idea we like to share it to pass on any of those tips.
We love to hear from our customers and those who follow us, to get your feedback.

Cheers
Liz and Mike Jury

Gluten Free Store Ltd