APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Yes, I made my own.  This weekend I decanted my own apple cider vinegar.  It was simple to make although you need patience.

Ingredients.  2kg of crisp, sweet,  eating apples.  The kind that don't go mushy when you cook them (ask your green grocer). If you have apple trees, the windfalls would be perfect.   One cup of brown natural sugar and four litres of cold water.

Method.  You will need a big ceramic or glass jug to store the mix which could take some months depending on the temperature.  I cored the apples leaving the skin on, and cut into chunks (about quarter slices then cut the quarters into half, but you don't have to be precise, smallish chunks will do).  Then dissolve the sugar into about a cup of water and then add the dissolved sugar water to the mix.

Put everything into the jug you have chosen, put a tea towel on the top, and leave for as long as it takes.  In Queensland it may take 1 month because it is warm, but here, even in my kitchen, it took 3 months.

After about a month it will go a bit slimy.  It won't smell or fizz.  If it does you are on your way to apple cider, slow the process down by putting it in a cooler place.  After the second month I added half a cup of a previous batch of vinegar (you could use a bought cider vinegar, but make sure it is organic and all natural (no chemicals added).  If you have a warm kitchen, or live in a warm climate you may not need to add this.  I just did it to hurry the fermentation along.  Then just leave for as long as it takes.  As I said, mine took about 3 months in total.

Cider vinegar is so sensitive to temperature, that I cannot guarantee anything about this recipe.  It works for me, and if you just take things slowly I think it will work for you.  It is so satisfying when it does.  The next batch I am going to leave much longer and see if I can produce a balsamic style vinegar.  I will let you know.  It might take one year to get the desired result!

VIVA CHAPLIN

Took time away from the canvas today and visited Tylden Harvester for lunch.  Unfortunately Adam  had decided to close early, but that still left me heaps of time to have their fantastic Garlic Prawn Risotto (Gluten Free of course).  This is a stupendous dish.  The prawns are so fresh they explode with taste, and the risotto is not a boring rice mush.  Everything is what it is, and perfectly cooked.   The Harvester is getting a bigger and bigger GF menu, so if you like me are GF, go there.   We are having a discussion at the moment about the difference between salmon and ocean trout (whatever that is!).  They do have them in special packets at the supermarket, but they taste the same to me - they even look the same.  Are they the same.  What is "ocean trout"? Salmon?

Then because they were closing, I took myself off to Trentham, and had dessert at "Chaplins".  I had a great soy latte, and their GF chocolate slice.  I didn't intend to eat the whole thing, but it was gorgeous so I did.  The man at the next table congratulated me on finishing the chocolate mountain....  a bit of an exaggeration! (He was a bit luscious too, but obviously "occupied" with a woman who was having a hard time taking her eyes from him - I might be old, but I am not dead.  I notice these things - and luckily they are GF!).

By the way,  I met Amanda Millar at our local cafe Post Office.  Had a small chat with her and will catch up in the new year.  She is also PERSONA NON with the council because of her stand on food issues (she is the chairperson of the Diabetes Council or suchlike) so it should be a lively discussion when we do get together.

DECK THE HALLS

What a fantastic Christmas with all the GLUTEN FREE trimmings.  I actually cooked a small Christmas Dinner for friends - kangaroo roast (of course), and a chicken cooked with lemon and coriander, baked potatoes, peas and broadbeans from the garden, and a gorgeous herb salad also from the garden tossed with sesame oil and dried shalotts.  This was followed by a gluten free lime roulade (from the Providore in New Gisborne), together with fresh picked berries.  How is that?  I am learning.

I did plan to make gluten free mince pies, but I received some from kind students, so that is yet to be tested.  On Christmas night I had dinner with Debbie, Michael and JP.   Debbie made the beetroot based christmas cake I gave the recipe for a few blogs back, except she served it hot instead of Christmas Pud.  I have to say it was totally delicious served with ice-cream and tipsy cream.

And what is even better, I have not gained one ounce even after a few days of eating and drinking. Champers of course!  I am absolutely the same size as I was before all the festivities.  Pretty terrific, and the first time that has ever happened for me - it usually takes weeks of effort to recover.  Not now I am eating for me...Gluten Free Forever!!! 

ARE YOU "REALLY" GLUTEN INTOLERANT?

We have gone blithely along presuming we are GLUTEN INTOLERANT, but unless you have had a test (or even if one came back negative on the day), how can you tell?  There are some questions you might like to ask...

If you have any of the following symptoms, you may be gluten intolerant:

1. Digestive issues - gas, bloating, diarrhea and even constipation.  Consipation is particularly eveident in children who are gluten intolerant.

2. KERATOSIS PILARIS (www.mayoclinic.com/health/keratosis-pilaris/DS00769.  This is also known as "chicken skin" on the back of the arms (nothing to do with doing to many "crow" balances in yoga class!)  This tends to be as a result of fatty acid deficiency and Vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat-malabsorbtion caused by gluten damaging the gut..

3. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, lupus, Scleroderma or MS.

4. Fatigue, brain fog or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten.

5.  I also had heart palpitations after eating gluten.  They took a while to subside, but now gone.

6.  Ditto tinnitus.  A welcome surprise.  It does come and go, but is getting less and less.  I am having days of quiteness now.

More than 55 diseases have been linked to gluten - the protein found in wheat, rye and barley.  It is estimated that 99% of the peope who have gluten intolerance or celiac disease are never diagnosed and as much as 15% of the population is Gluten intolerant.  Are you one of them?

AN INFLAMMATION FIGHTING TURMERIC SMOOTHIE..
If you have had undiagnosed gluten intolerance for year, for sure you have inflammation which the Chinese practitioners believe is at the centre of all disease.  Turmeric fights inflammation in a big way, and is being studied for its effects on cancers..  Here is a beautiful turmeric smoothie.

1 slice (or more) of paw-paw or mango
1 frozen banana
Half a cup of pure orange juice (unstrained)
half an inch of fresh turmeric or half a teaspoon of dried turmeric

Whizz in a high speed blender, put into a lovely glass (a martini glass gives a special feeling) add a dollop of real yoghurt and grate some fresh nutmeg over the top.  Perfect to kick start the day.