Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[SAB]

A real challenge for you all. As a well establised vegetarian I have now had to go gluten and dairy free (also no yeast or mushrooms) for health reasons (candida) - I am like a new woman with bags more energy and eating day to day is fine, though harder if attempting to eat out. My mum is having everyone for Christmas and is at a loss as to what to make for me that feels festive - any ideas folks?

[Lesley]

The Almond Roast I mentioned in another thread can be made vegan - and can be made quite festive with a layer of cranberry sauce and sage and onion stuffing.

 

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=4535

 

Almond Roast

4 oz ground almonds

4 oz wholemeal bread

1 oz butter

Half a cup of boiling milk or tomato juice

1 Finely chopped shallot or half onion

1 medium carrot, grated

Herbs - I use sage or thyme

1 beaten egg

Salt and pepper

Bread crumbs

 

Break bread into pieces, place in bowl and pour on the boiling milk/tomato juice.

Add butter and leave to stand while preparing carrots, shallot etc.

Mash the bread with masher or fork.

Add all other ingredients and mix well.

 

Shape into a roll, roll in breadcrumbs.

Roast in hot oil - Gas Mk.5 /400F/200C - 1 Hour.

 

Serve with mint jelly and mashed potato/veg - or roast veggies - or cold with a salad.

 

I use this to stuff marrow.

 

You can also make rissoles with it and can substitute any other nuts. Add some finely chopped nuts instead of all ground ones.

 

For Christmas I make my own Cranberry Sauce with orangezest and port and my own Sage and Onion stuffing with chopped dried Apricots and chopped Chestnuts. I layer the nut roast mixture with a layer of cranberry Sauce in the middle and top with a layer of Sage and Onion Stuffing.

 

This is nice hot or cold

 

You'd have to use or make a gluten free stuffing - I did see one in the wholefood shop - and you'd need to use a gluten free bread for the almondy bit, but not impossible. Use a vegan margarine instead of the butter.

Edited December 14, 2009 by Guest

[theherd123]

A real challenge for you all. As a well establised vegetarian I have now had to go gluten and dairy free (also no yeast or mushrooms) for health reasons (candida) - I am like a new woman with bags more energy and eating day to day is fine, though harder if attempting to eat out. My mum is having everyone for Christmas and is at a loss as to what to make for me that feels festive - any ideas folks?

 

 

Sorry no advice but how do you do it?

I had to eat like this for 3 months while I was still feeding my daughter and I swear it nearly saw me off! I was so tired all the time and on my knees some days.

 

I also struggled to find food which ticked all the boxes, so out of interest do you eat any specialist foods or just fill up on fruit, veg & nuts & pulses?

 

I do hope you find something tasty for Christmas dinner & Lesleys recipe looks fab!

[Valkyrie]

I always used to make Dad's (he was coeliac) mince pies with gluten free flour and to make it bind better add some xanthan gum - I also made plenty of jam tarts for him too. He thought they were better than shop bought ones because they felt more like normal pastry. Don't be frightened to experiment. The local WI make fantastic apple pies and cakes that are gluten free - you'd never know the difference.

[majorbloodnock]

Well, I've seen plenty of variations of something boulangere (duck boulangere, cod boulangere, lamb boulangere, venison boulangere etc.), so I'm sure you could settle on something to top it with that'd fit the vegetarian bill.

 

And it should be pretty festive, since it's quite rich enough. In addition, if you take 3 heads (not cloves) of garlic, chop each in half widthwise and arrange them on the potatoes around the outside and cook with the potatoes, each half clove ends up with the consistency that allows you to scoop it out with your knife and spread on each mouthful.

[SAB]

Thanks for your suggestions everyone!

 

Sorry no advice but how do you do it?

I had to eat like this for 3 months while I was still feeding my daughter and I swear it nearly saw me off! I was so tired all the time and on my knees some days.

 

I also struggled to find food which ticked all the boxes, so out of interest do you eat any specialist foods or just fill up on fruit, veg & nuts & pulses?

 

I would say I found the 1st 3 months hardest and can't imagine doing it whilst expending the energy of breastfeeding. After that I would say my energy levels rose and have continued to have the energy levels I had years ago, which is a big incentive to carry on. I also take Nelson's Candida tablets daily and if feeling run down I take a dose of grapefruit seed oil (or as the kids call it "chicken medicine" as we initially got it for the chooks ) and this sees off most nasties. Now instead of up to 15 sick days per year from work I have only had 3 so something definately working for me!

 

After the first wee while I had adapted more to what I could eat - substituting rice or potatoes where I would normally have bread. In addition, food labelling is much better now and helps (it meant shopping took ages at first whilst I read all the labels). I have also honed my baking skills to be able to adapt recipes to suit (often timing/consistency is hard to judge for gluten-free baking I find). I do get gluten free flour etc for baking and I am able to have natural yoghurt so will use that or soya milk too. Otherwise nothing specialist (there is nothing specialist to be had in the small town in West of Scotland where I stay - folk think it is weird enough being veggie). I have always eaten a lot of curries, soups, etc, so just eat them more often now. Have never found a gluten free bread I can bear the taste of and do sometimes find that I feel hungry and can't just have a sandwich, so eat a portion of chips instead!