Happy Friday everyone! Sorry I am a bit late today, but hay fever is really taking its toll on me at the moment… Thanks to everyone who takes part in Free From Fridays week after week with Emma and I. This week, I have had a sweet tooth. I am craving snacks big time, so the three posts from last week that really stood out for me were all allergy-friendly treats. Seriously, read on, this is snack heaven!
Allergy-friendly Treats:
Charlotte’s Sweet Popcorn, that is even better than popcorn you get at the cinema, has to be the recipe I want to try first. Come to mama! We have a ‘Cinema Party’ at home at least once a week (generally twice) and popcorn is always a favourite for all of us. I really love popcorn, especially the sweet and salty version, but I always find that the one we make at home is not as nice as my favourite two: POSHCORN and PROPER CORN. Charlotte’s sauce to coat the popcorn sounds absolutely perfect and I will definitely be trying it this weekend with a sprinkle of salt. She also suggests not one, but four different ways to pop your corn.
Life gets busy with children, work, clubs, etc. I love using a ‘cheat’ or two to make my life easier, and Rebecca’s moreish allergy-friendly treats provide us with just that, by using a cake mix and jazzing it up with raspberries. You go, girl! I would use 2 chia or flax eggs instead of the eggs to make the cake batter vegan, and voilà!
Homemade cereal bars are one of my favourite treats, whether allergies are concerned or not, and I am a bit of a nut addict, so these Paleo Nut Bar with Goji Berries by Hope are right up my street!
Last week, I was all on my own on the tube for an hour or so (rare occurrence) and it got me thinking about how lucky I am to have met such a great crowd of people over the past few years. There is a real sense of community on the UK blogging scene, and even more so when it comes to ‘free from’ food bloggers.
I love the ‘Free From’ Blogging Community!
Had Jumpy not had allergies,
I would not have this little blog blog.
I would not have met the wonderful, inspirational people I have met over the past few years.
I would not have developed recipes like gluten-free refined sugar free vegan cake.
I would never have started working freelance as a photographer, recipe writer or blogger.
I would not be part of a wonderful ‘free from’ community.
I would be complacent. I would live life the way I always had.
I would have no idea what I am missing.
Every cloud has a silver lining,
Every event in our lives, big or small, happy or sad, exciting or scary has an impact on our future.
I am grateful for the changes allergies enforced on our lives, for making us stronger, for making us part of a supportive community, leading us to an award. Thanks to everyone (Hi, mum!) who takes the time to read my ramblings, comment and share.
Hayfever is causing me lots of problems too, and seems to be worse than normal for this time of year! 🙁
Whoop whoop to winning an award ma belle, so deserved! xx
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And you! I can’t believe it started this early (well, started at all, really – I am on antihistamines all year round), and I feel dreadful!
Aw, what a lovely ode to blogging! It’s amazing how some of the tough things in life actually end up making life better, isn’t it? Love the idea of a FFF Pinterest board – have just followed you on Pinterest (can’t believe I wasn’t already!!!) Please may I have an invite 🙂 Eb x P.S. One of these days I am going to have to pick your brains on Pinterest – I am absolutely hopeless at it!!
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Oooh, I can’t believe you weren’t following me! I’ll check whether I was following you 🙂 Will add you now. x
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Oh. Em. Gee! I wasn’t following you either! How on earth did that happen? Well, not happen!
Oh no not you too with the hayfever! its bad already which is never a good sign! LOVE the look of that popcorn! And yes please can I join the pinterest board too! x
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I’m definitely trying that popcorn this weekend 🙂 Just added you to the Pinterest board. x
I love your positive outlook on how allergies brought you such a great community. We tell our youngest, with the worst allergies in the family, that we wouldn’t be as healthy as we are without her—we eat less fat, fewer processed foods, more fruits and veggies. Things everyone should do anyway. She and the food allergy community are great reminders to me to stay positive and creative, instead of focusing on what we “lost” (all those cheesy Italian family recipes!) when we all gave up dairy, etc. Hope you feel better soon!
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Yes. That! When I was building up the ‘safe’ foods for my little girl, I realised she was by far the healthiest of all of us 🙂
It’s so true Mel. I would give back my children’s allergies in a heartbeat but I am also grateful for everything the situation has brought me through blogging, a new understanding of food and a clearer perspective. And well done again on the award! x
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Thanks sweetie!
Oh no, not the hay fever – hope you feel better soon. I love how you created the allergies into a great blogging adventure. It´s amazing 🙂 My story is a bit similar. I started to eat vegan because of my neurodermatitis and now I am a food blogger and my friends ask me how to eat healthy 🙂 So let´s start creating a lot of healthy stuff 😉 Could I be part of your FFF facebook group and please can I join the pinterest board too 🙂
Hugs Bea
P.S.: Well done on the award!!!
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Hi Bea,
Of course you can join the Facebook group! All you have to do is click on the link and request to join. We’ll approve you straight away. When you join in with the linky, I’ll add you to the Pinterest board 🙂 Just remind me.