Q What are the merits of coconut flour in gluten-free baking? Ah, coconut flour! One of the most talked about foods of the last year. This merit on its own usually divides people into two camps: those who are desperate to try it and those who are naturally sceptical, claiming it’s another overpriced and popular […]
Q I don’t have diagnosed coeliac disease but do suffer with digestive issues – bloating and irregular bowel movements! Will cutting out gluten help or could it be something else? There can be many causes of digestive symptoms and unfortunately it’s not usually as simple as singling out gluten as the culprit. The gut issues you’ve […]
Q How can I prevent my gluten-free bakes being dry and crumbly? Many trials and errors in the kitchen have taught me that there are a few safeguards you can take to ensure that your gluten-free breads and cakes are light, airy and moist: Try not to use only one type of gluten-free flour. For example, if […]
Q Why does gluten-free bread taste like sawdust? We have been brainwashed into thinking that you need to glue gluten-free breads together, because without gluten bread falls apart and is dry and crumbly! Of course it is dry and crumbly if you make ‘bread’ from potato flour and corn starch, both highly processed starches that need something […]
Q Under what circumstances would you advocate xanthan gum in baking and when is it not needed? The gluten found in wheat flour plays an important role in the texture of our familiar baked goods. When absent, as in gluten-free flour, baking results sometimes don’t live up to our expectations. Xanthan gum, when added in […]
Q Are gluten-free products safe for individuals with wheat allergy? There is a difference between wheat intolerance and coeliac disease. Coeliac disease is a lifelong intolerance to gliaden, part of the gluten proteins that are a large part of the grain of wheat, rye and barley. It causes damage to the small intestine and many […]
Q I’ve followed a gluten-free diet for the last couple of years and the thing I really miss is going out for afternoon tea. I’ve got a special birthday coming up and wondered if you could recommend anywhere that does a really nice afternoon tea? Can I expect the same variety of treats as I’d […]
Q My six-year-old daughter has just been diagnosed with a dairy intolerance, but I’m concerned about the impact cutting dairy from her diet will have – how can I make sure she gets enough calcium? I understand your concern. Since the 1950s the Milk Marketing Board has been telling us that the best source of […]
Q Have you got any reliable tips for making gluten-free and milk-free bread? Most homemade/machine recipes I’ve tried end up very crumbly and heavy. Ones to buy are very expensive if not on prescription. Gluten-free bread doesn’t have to be crumbly or dense if you treat it more like cake batter and add a few […]
Q I’ve just been diagnosed with coeliac disease and I’m concerned about eating out. How do I make sure that I won’t get any problems with cross contamination in restaurants, and even more worryingly when I go to see family and friends? Eating out when you have coeliac disease requires careful communication about your gluten-free […]