That means another yummy recipe using Kelloog’s All-Bran Fibre Toppers, an easy way to add fibre to your daily diet. Check out www.all-bran.com.au for details.

Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 2 cups self raising flour
• 1 cup mashed pumpkin
• 70 grams healthy margarine spread, melted
• 1/2 cup low fat milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Topping Ingredients

• 100 grams low fat cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon icing sugar
• 1/2 cup Kellogg’s All-Bran Fibre Toppers

Method:

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcious
• Spray cake pan with olive oil spray
• Mix self raising flour, pumpkin, melted butter, milk, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar in a mixing bowl.
• Mix well
• Pour into prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes or until cooked.
• Cool in pan 5 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack.
• For the topping: Mix reduced fat cream cheese and icing sugar together.
• Ice with frosting and sprinkle All-Bran Fibre Toppers.
• Slice and enjoy.

My official taste tester aka hubby, loved this as much as my Date and Apricot Balls I made. (also with All-Bran Fibre Toppers)

Something Different Again: Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

Wowsers, we had a very big weekend, with my son turning 7. While I still get used to the fact that I am now the mother of a 7 year old, I’ll share this weeks meal ideas.

Weekly Menu Plan

Monday – Bangers and Mash (need simple comfort food badly) with lots of steamed veg.

Tuesday – Tuna Risotto with home made wedges

Wednesday – Lentil Shepherd Pie – so hearty and filling, easily gluten free

Thursday – Gluten Free Fettuccine Carbonara 

Friday – Gluten Free Baked Chicken with Tomato Sauce - scroll down for the recipe

Saturday – Mediterranean Tuna and Rice Pie – the rice is the base so easily gluten free – just use gluten free stock

Sunday – Simple Supper Night

Linking up with Org Junkie and Menu Plan Monday.

Have a great week everyone!

Weekly Menu Plan with Gluten Free Meal Ideas is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

But today I have a very good reason to cook non gluten free. You know my awesome friends Kellogg’s? The ones that still listened to my gluten free woes even though they are (yet) to have a gluten free product in Australia? Well they are so awesome they are sponsoring a blogger to go to the BlogHer Conference in New York this August. My Mummy Daze is the lucky blogger who scored the sponsorship. Pretty cool right?

Kellogg’s are so awesome (did I mention they are awesome?) they are sending another blogger. To BlogHer. In New York. I know. Awesome right?

I know what you are thinking – its me! Well no. Not yet.

The 2nd sponsorship is up for grabs via a competition that Kellogg’s have cooked up. They have released a new product – All-Bran Fibre Toppers. The invited bloggers come up with a recipe including the All-Bran Fibre Toppers and the best one as voted by them gets… you guessed it – the 2nd sponsorship to BlogHer in New York City! Got to be in to win it so I am in it folks!

So here is one of my competition entries.

Date and Apricot Balls

Ingredients

• 100 grams dates
• 50 grams dried apricots
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 50 grams light cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup All-Bran Fibre Toppers

Method

• Process the dates and dried apricots together. If you don’t have a food processor (like me – I know sad right?) use the blender or finely finely chop the dates and dried apricots. Put into a mixing bowl.
• Add the softened cream cheese and mix well
• Add the honey and mix well.
• Place All-Bran Fibre Toppers in a shallow dish.
• Roll the mixture into balls, then roll in the All-Bran Fibre Toppers.
• Store in an air tight container and chill in the refrigerator.

Hubby was the official taste tester and he loves these. A great addition to breakfast or snack anytime.  Yummy and healthy. All-Bran Fibre Toppers are a great, easy way to get your fibre needs.

I also whipped up some date only balls and dried apricot only balls. I have included their recipes also, as the quantities are a bit different.

Date Balls

Ingredients

• 200 grams dates
• 50 grams light cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 cup All-Bran Fibre Toppers

Method

• Process or finely chop dates, place in a mixing bowl.
• Add cream cheese and mix well.
• Add honey and mix well.
• Place All-Bran Fibre Toppers in a shallow dish.
• Roll the mixture into balls, the roll in the All-Bran Fibre Toppers.
• Store in an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator.

Apricot Balls

Ingredients

• 100 grams dried apricots
• 40 grams light cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 cup All-Bran Fibre Toppers

Method

• Process or finely chop dried apricots. Place into a mixing bowl.
• Add the cream cheese, mix well.
• Add the honey, mix well.
• Put the All-Bran Fibre Toppers into a shallow dish.
• Roll the mixture into balls, roll in the All-Bran Fibre Toppers.
• Store in an air tight container and chill in the refrigerator.

Enjoy!

Kellogg’s All-Bran Fibre Toppers are available in Coles, Woolworths and leading independent supermarkets all across Australia. If you can’t see them in your store yet, keep looking out  for them, they’ll be in a 265gm box. Check out www.all-bran.com.au for more information.

And wish me luck please!

Something A Little Different: A Non Gluten Free Recipe: Date and Apricot Balls is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

Today you can find me over at Kleenex Mums talking about Kids and Cooking.

Do you cook with your children?

Kleenex Mums Post: Kids in the Kitchen is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

It is birthday week in our house this week. My gorgeous Little Man turns 7 on Friday.

Weekly Menu Plan

Monday – Burritos – use corn tortillas to make gluten free

Tuesday – Gluten Free Tuna and Potato Bake

Wednesday – ‘Chicken on a Stick’ – pieces of chicken marinated in BBQ sauce and grilled. Serve with rice and stirfry veg.

Thursday – Gluten Free Pan Fried Fish

Friday – its a special Little Man’s birthday! He gets to choose dinner of his choice

Saturday – its celebration time at a special Little Man’s party

Sunday – Simple Supper Night

Linking up to Org Junkie for Menu Plan Monday

Have a wonderful week

Weekly Meal Plan – with Gluten Free Ideas is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

I was checking out my blog reader today and come across an article by Mia Freedman. I am sure you have heard of her? Her blog is amongst the most well known in Australia, Mamamia. She wrote “Does anyone eat anything anymore?”  about how annoying it is that people bang on about how they can’t eat sugar or gluten or dairy or additives… how trendy it has become.

As I write this, that particular post has over 350 comments with the majority of people disagreeing with her.

I have been a diagnosed coeliac for 9 years. Yes it is something I am born with and no I cannot have just a little bit. I hate hate HATE having coeliac disease. Yes I truly hate having it because I am not a show pony, I hate being the centre of attention and I hate having to explain details of my personal life to strangers just to get them to understand. Yes of course I feel better but doesn’t make it easier.

People pretending they are allergic is just plain wrong. Personally I have never seen/heard anyone doing so but I don’t doubt it happens.

I also admit that I like that there are articles like this one around, it does bring to the forefront of people’s mind about the reality of food allergies and intolerance’s. It gets people talking, I have had several emails from people saying to me, ‘Did you see Mia’s article?’ The more it is talked about the more education that will come from it and that is my ultimate goal.

If that means that gluten free is trendy that I am sorry I am all for it. I love that there are so many products out there, I love that cafes and restaurants are trying to cater for us (more education needed here though) I love that people are putting on invitations ‘please advise of any special food needs’.

Why? Because in the 9 years I have been diagnosed as having coeliac disease, I still feel like an outsider, I still feel like I am being a pain in the rear end in restaurants and I apologise all the time for something I cannot control. If it is trendy then I might just be trendy for 5 minutes and it might make me feel a bit better about myself and surely this can only be a good thing?

So yes Mia, good article. Thank you.

Oh Mama Mia is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

(giveaway now closed! passes all gone!)

Better Homes and Gardens has been on the great success stories for bringing the pages of a magazine to life on a television screen. Now they are taking their success a step further and sharing it LIVE with the people of Melbourne.

Better Homes and Gardens LIVE will be at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton on February 24th to 26th.  There will be over 250 stalls and exhibitions as well as the TV presenters sharing their ideas and expertise.

It promises to be a fantastic family day out, my own family are very much looking forward to it. Especially seeing this guy – Fast Ed.

Thanks to the lovely people at Better Homes and Gardens, I have 10 double passes to give away. Yes you read that right – TEN double passes worth $40 each.

To grab a pair of these tickets I need you to do 2 things.

First, check out the website and tell me what you are looking forward to seeing most at the show.

Then email me at nellbeblog@gmail.com your name and that you have left a comment.

I will then let you know if you are one of the lucky ten people to get a double pass and give you further details.

Giveaway open to the first 10 elegible people.

To be eligible you must be an Australian citizen and able to attend the Melbourne show 24th to 26th February 2012. One comment per email address and url address. Thank you.

Now hurry!

Better Homes and Garden Live Show Melbourne Double Pass Giveaway (now closed!) is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

A very yummy and simple dish to make. I amended this recipe from Best Recipes. Very yummy with home made chips and salad.

Gluten Free Pan Fried Fish Fillet Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 fillets white fish – I used whiting
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup gluten free plain flour – I used Orgran
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon grated cheese
• 1 teaspoon seeded mustard
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 tablespoon butter

Method

• Mix gluten free flour, paprika and oregano together.
• Pat the fish dry with paper towel, coat in seasoned flour mixture.
• Mix eggs, salt, pepper, cheese, mustard and parsley in a bowl.
• Dip fillets in the mixture.
• Heat oil and butter in a large fry pan on medium high, once butter is melted add fish to pan.
• Cook 8-10 minutes, or until tender, cooked through and golden on both sides.
• Remove fish from pan and drain on paper towel.
• Serve and enjoy!

Gluten Free Pan Fried Fish Fillet Recipe is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

My darling Tiniest Man, who is almost 2 1/2 years old, has recently dropped his day nap. We did this because he was taking forever to get to sleep at night so we didn’t put him down for his midday nap. Wouldn’t you know it he was getting to sleep almost straight away at night time.

And they lived happily every after.

Or not. For some strange reason he has started waking in the night. Sometimes he cries. We leave him as experience tells us it is better to leave him as he will settle quicker, plus we know when it is ‘I’m in pain or am sad’ cry. Sometimes he gets out of bed and down the hallway. We pick him and put him back. We do it a la Super Nanny as in the first time out of bed gets a good night from us but any time after that he gets put back without a word. He gets the message pretty quick and back to sleep he goes.

Other times he wakes during the night when we are in bed asleep and he just sits in the hallway. He doesn’t cry, doesn’t call out, he just sits there. I do not know how long for as he never wakes us but on occasion he falls asleep in the hallway and that’s where we find him when we get up. Hubby gets up at 5.30 every morning and sometimes he is sitting in the hallway wide awake!

He is getting no day time nap. Sometimes he gets not enough sleep at night time. So that equals some fun times during the day and the by the time hubby gets home around 6pm I am so ready to handball the kids straight to him and just breathe for 5 minutes.

But that never happens does it? Nope, no time, we both know the kids need feeding, bathing, reading and by the time we do sit down around 7.30 I have the pleasure of my other jobs to do.

That would be blogging and freelance writing. Plus Tuesday nights I co-host the #ausallergy chat on Twitter. (8.30pm Melbourne time every Tuesday night.)

I would love to hear from any of you that have dealt with a wandering awake toddler at night. Sometimes he doesn’t wake us so I have no idea how little sleep he is getting. It is very frustrating as he gets so grumpy during the day. Hopefully it is one of those ‘phases’ and it will stop soon. Hopefully. In the meantime I will continue to grit my teeth and deal with a tired toddler.

PS – above is a photo of my baby when he was 6 months old. He is lying on me… the only time he really slept was on me so he never was big in the sleeping department. I wish he was – I am a little sick of being tired!

Toddler and Sleep is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe

Happy Monday everyone, I hope all are well.

I have almost got my cooking mojo back and will hopefully be sharing some new recipes with you soon. In the meantime, here is our weekly menu plan.

Monday – Rissoles with Sweet Potato Mash - easily made gluten free by using gluten free breadcrumbs

Tuesday – Bean and Rice Tortillas – using gluten free corn tortillas

Wednesday – Salmon and Ricotta Pasta – using gluten free pasta

Thursday – Gluten Free Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken with rice

Friday – Gluten Free Tuna Rice Based Quiche with salad

Saturday – Omelettes with home made wedges

Sunday – Simple Supper Night

I am linking with Org Junkie and Menu Plan Monday.

Have a wonderful week!

Menu Plan Monday – with Gluten Free Meal Ideas is a post from: Nellbe Gluten Free Copyright @ Nellbe