Last night, as I was on my way to the Gluten-free Supper Club organised by the lovely people at Schwartz™ to celebrate the launch of their gluten-free range, it felt like I was just going on a girly night out. I would be seeing a few of my blogging friends, and also meet a few members of The ‘Free From’ Gang (true story, we have a secret Facebook group called just that!). Check us out!
From left to right:
Corina at ‘Searching for Spice’
Kate at ‘The Gluten Free Alchemist’
Nath at ‘The Intolerant Gourmand’
Eb at ‘Easy Peasy Foodie’
Kirsty at ‘Hijacked by Twins’ and little me!
The launch of ‘Schwartz™ Gluten Free’ took place at The Hospital Club, a stunning venue that also happens to be a private members’ club for the creative industries. It was a real privilege to be there and the evening kicked off with a presentation of the new range.
Schwartz™ are known for their high-quality herbs and spices. The latter naturally add flavours to food and the aim of the new range was to provide time-poor families with the perfect blend of spices to replicate quickly and easily a gluten-free version of popular dishes like macaroni cheese, chilli con carne or cottage pie.
Why launch a gluten-free range now?
Although they are already hugely successful with their range of herbs, spies and mixes, the people at Schwartz™ constantly work on food trends, changing lifestyles and general demand. Gluten-free alternatives are certainly in demand at the moment, whether it be for health reasons or as a lifestyle choice.
In recent years it has been easier to find convenience food that is free from a variety of allergens, but there was definitely a gap in the market for affordable alternatives. ‘Free from’ food is getting better and better, but it still tends to be double or triple the price of regular products, so I was rather impressed by the £1.30 price tag on Schwartz™ gluten-free recipe mixes.
The culinary department at Schwartz™ developed the spice mixes so that the whole family could enjoy flavour-packed food without worrying about gluten sneaking its way into their dinner.
The recipe mixes are based around popular family meals like Macaroni Cheese, Cottage Pie, Chicken Casserole, Spaghetti Bolognese and Chilli Con Carne. They are the perfect blends of herbs and spices that deliver great results for your meals, at a reasonable price. What more could you ask for?
The new range is certified gluten-free. It which took about two years from concept to launch, and those flavour packs are well and truly safe for those with a gluten intolerance and for Coeliacs. The fact each sachet displays Coeliac UK’s Crossed Grain symbol is a seal of approval by the charity that assures customers the spice blends are suitable for people with coeliac disease. Since Jumpy is allergic to wheat, we also find the symbol reassuring sit is a quick and easy way of identifying products that are safe to eat.
Amanda Hamilton was also there with a couple of hats on. She is a renowned nutritionist and also mother who cooks for a diverse range of ages and tastes.
She described Schwartz™ Gluten Free recipe mixes as “healthy acceptable shortcuts.” Since they are affordable and easier to use, they are available to all. Going gluten-free by default is nowadays more and more mainstream, and it makes sense from a nutritional point of view. Schwartz™ provides us with shortcuts, without compromising on the flavours.
I could not agree more. In an ideal world, I would have a couple of hours a day to stand by a bubbling pot on the stove, cooking absolutely everything from scratch as my angelic children entertain themselves without turning the house upside down. In reality, my children wreck my house and after three school pick-ups, there are generally clubs, play dates, hospital appointments and children who are “starving” so if I have not had time to pre-cook our dinner at the weekend, shortcuts are most welcome, as long as flavours are there.
The first dish I tried as an appetiser was a small portion of courgetti Bolognese, and I have to say it tasted delicious. I have to say I found it refreshing to see a ‘free from’ range that was much cheaper (£1.30 per sachet!) than usual, and therefore a lot more accessible than what we are used to. The initial presentation was followed by a drinks reception. I had a perfectly spiced cinnamon Martini.
The Gluten Free supper club was set in a forest-like reception room, and I pleased to sit between Eb and Amanda, with whom conversation was flowing all evening.
We were really spoilt when it came to the food, with a Mini Mac ’n’ Cheese with Schwartz™ Gluten Free Cheese Sauce Mix which was tasty and creamy.
Photo credit: Schwartz™
The main course was a bit of a feast. We had Chilli Chicken and Chorizo with Schwartz™ Gluten Free Chilli Con Carne Mix. The chicken was moist, beautifully spiced and I love the fact the people at Schwartz™ broke the barriers and decided to show us the versatility of the mixes by using a Chilli mix with deboned chicken thighs or Veggie Stuffed Peppers with Gluten Free Spaghetti Bolognese mix.
Photo credit: Schwartz™
My absolute favourite was the steak with Schwartz™ Gluten-Free Peppercorn Sauce. It was to die for and I am looking forward to making it when I next get steak. Although I love peppercorn sauce, I have not made it in years because my children would not touch it. Going for the convenience of a mix is really appealing!
Photo credit: Schwartz™
I also loved the Veggie Fajitas with Schwartz™ Gluten Free Fajitas Mix. All of the above were served with gluten-free chips, rice, salad, plenty of greens, sour sauce and mashed avocado and I ate about twice as I normally eat. What a gorgeous dinner!
We had macarons with mango and curry powder and truffles with cinnamon for dessert and it was time to head home. Long story short: I took the wrong train and ended up miles away from home, with no train going back towards London. Not only did the taxi ride home cost me £50, but the driver behaved like a Formula 1 driver. Not the best journey home I’ve ever had…
Oh well, such is life. I arrived at home safe and sound much later than planned and a bit frazzled, but a good night’s sleep and all was forgotten.
Here is the range of Schwartz™ Gluten Free blends, and the main spices that flavour them:
- Fajitas – cumin, chillies and oregano
- Chilli con Carne – chilli powder, ground cumin and cocoa powder
- Spaghetti Bolognese – tomato, garlic, basil and oregano
- Cottage Pie – garlic, rosemary and thyme
- Chicken Casserole – onion, garlic, oregano and sage
- Beef Gravy
- Peppercorn Sauce
- Cheese Sauce
Which of these gluten-free mixes would you fancy trying first?
Check the website for product details, useful tips and recipes using the mixes.
I have teamed up with Schwartz™ to give away a hamper to one lucky reader, containing:
– 8 Schwartz™ Gluten Free recipe mixes
– #GlutenFreeFlavour plate
– £20 Cowshed voucher
– 3 x spice infused candles
– a heart wooden spoon
– Recipe Cards
To be in with a chance of winning just complete one or more entries below. Good luck!
How to enter the giveaway:
You can pick and choose a range of ways in which to enter. The only one you must click on to get into the draw is the one asking you to leave a blog post comment. You must also leave a comment telling us which one of the mixes you fancy trying first.
Entries are open until 23.59 p.m. GMT time on Tuesday 28 March 2017. Good luck!
Disclosure:
– The prize will be supplied directly by Schwartz™.
– The giveaway is open to UK residents over 18.
– This is a sponsored post but all opinions and photos (unless specified) are my own.
I have listed this giveaway on ThePrizeFinder, SuperLucky, Competition Database and Loquax.
The fajitas mix as my kids love chicken fajitas!
We do too! I had veggie fajitas on Wednesday (with chickpeas) and they were so yummy!
would love to try out the gravy on our sunday roast
I was thinking just that for my little girl: she doesn’t normally have gravy as the mix my husband buys is not wheat-free.
The fajitas look LOVELY!
Would love to try the gravy, that’s one thing i struggle with on a cooked dinner to make it tasty
Same here!
Glad i’m not alone 🙂 x
Fajita mix pkease x
beef gravy
I would love to try out this gravy 😀 not keen on the brand i’m using currently
PEPPERCORN SAUCE AAArrrggghhh! Sorry, got a bit excited there, said I wanted that one! 🙂
It’s soooo nice!
They all sound nice but think the Chilli con carne would be my first one to try.
I can’t wait to try that one!
LOVE to try the gluten free cheese sauce
the fajitas mix to try
Oh Mel you do make me smile! You might want to change taco to taxi because that made me smile even more ;)! Sounds like a fab night apart from the ending…
Hahaha, I’m changing that typo now! I can’t imagine it adds to the comical effect!
Peppercorn sauce my husband would love that
It’s my favourite!
I’d make a lovely Gluten Free Cottage Pie for my lovely mother in law
Chilli Con Carne would be my first choice
Spaghetti bolognese
Spagehetti Bolognaise please
Spaghetti bolognnaise – my sons love it but i can’t even spell it 🙂
the gravy x i love gravy!
Fajita mix -a great feast for my family
peppercorn sauce
Would like the Fajita
Fajita mix
Chilli con carne, I’ll invite my brother round
Fajita mix – all sound great
I would love to try the fajita mix.
I would love to try the cottage pie one first 🙂
The gluten free cheese sauce mix.
I really fancy the fajitas ????
Peppercorn sauce
Fajitas, can’t get enough of them
Fajitas I think x
chicken casserole
The fajita mix i think would be my 1st choice
i’d like to give the gravy a try mine always turns out lumpy 🙂
It was a lovely evening for sure and so nice to meet you finally….. Lovely write up, although I hate having my photo taken and whizzed past that bit of your post really quick. I wished I had taken a couple of cocktail shots….. that Cinnamon Martini was so good.
Sorry to hear that you got in a pickle going home….. but I am impressed that you managed to find an available ‘taco’ at that time of night….. Interesting picture in my head! x
Hahaha, thanks for reminding me I still haven’t edited the ‘taco’ bit 🙂 It was such a lovely evening and I’m so glad we finally met. If you’re not happy with me keeping the photo of all of us in, let me know and I’ll remove it. No problem at all! xxx
No it’s fine….. I’m just not used to being visible. It’s probably better that someone does it for me! Xx
hehehe!
The peppercorn sauce 🙂
I would try the chicken casserole one first and I would make it with quorn so my veggie partner would eat it.
The fajitas
The fajitas mix.
peppercorn sauce 🙂
The fajita one 🙂
The Cheese Sauce mix would be nice.
I’d love to try the peppercorn sauce
The fajita mix sounds great, I grew up with fajita’s in southern california, would be great to see how these taste to the authentic versions 🙂
Love chicken so I would try the Chicken casserole
I’d try the peppercorn sauce first. I’m obsessed with peppercorns.
The cheese sauce we love cheese sauce in Quinoa and rice pasta
The fajaita mix sound really nice so would try this first
The Fajita mix
The cheese sauce, would make a cauliflower cheese.
Mmmmm peppercorn sauce for definite!
Fajitas would be fab to try for our family fajita friday nights
I would try the Fajitas – yummy!
The fajita mix would go down well in our house!
The Cottage Pie sounds lush!
Fajitas mix
Gravy , with a family of coeliacs it’s a necessary !
I Love a good Steak especially with PEPPERCORN SAUCE
The Fajitas mix – I love making my food a little spicy, so this would be ideal!
The Fajita for sure
Fajitas! We love making chicken fajitas in the slow cooker so it would be perfect to save some time.
The fajita mix sounds good!
The fajitas mix please
The cheese sauce, would probably have it with chicken schnitzel.
The spaghetti bolongnese because that it my favourite dish all-time so it would be great to try the mix for it!
Definitely the fajitas, my boys love them!
The fajita mix for me all the way and though I haven’t had a gluten intolerance confirmed I know it doesn’t suit me.
oooh Chilli con Carni, it’s my favourite x
The chicken casserole mix.
The peppercorn sauce to have with a lovely steak
Fajitas are always a winning dinner in our house
cheese sauce
I would try the spaghetti bolognaise mix, as the whole family love it x
Would you believe I’ve never made cottage pie? I think I’d go for that. My mother would kill me if I used a fajitas mix, a true insult to our Latino heritage!
Fajitas, gotta love them.
Chilli con carne – I love it!:)
would love to make a super cauliflower cheese with the Gluten Free Chedder Cheese Sauce
chicken casserole would be my choice – sounds really tasty
The Fajitas as we love Mexican food
Definitely the peppercorn sauce!
The peppercorn sauce
Like to try the cottage pie first.
chili con carne
I’d love to try the cheese sauce!
Definitely the chilli con carne – I love chilli!
The first mix I would try would be the fajita mix
I’d try the Peppercorn Sauce first.
The cottage pie mix – hearty and filling. Yum!
Peppercorn sauce xx
The veggie fajitas!!
would love to try the cottage pie xx
I am a Coeliac. I would love to try the peppercorn sauce over a nice rump steak. It is fantastic to see that Schwartz are now doing a gluten free range
I know! I was really impressed too 🙂
Cottage pie 🙂
Fajita mix, bit of spice to life!
The Peppercorn Sauce
Cottage pie ????
I’d love to try the chilly con carne.
Fajitas are a family favourite
Fajitas mix 😀 love them! xo
Thanks for the chance xo
Think I would choose the chilli con carne
Yummy bundle of goodies <3 i would try the spagetti bolognese 1st my fave meal 🙂
Cheese sauce
The fajitas mix for sure because we eat a lot f Mexican food, yumm
Chilli con carne, perfect comfort food for me
Fajita!
Oooh Mel I love that picture! It was a great event and I cannot wait to try the mixes out and show them to the hubby! Hope to see you soon x
It really was a brilliant evening and it was lovely to see you, smiley lady 🙂
Cheese sauce to go on my cauliflower!
oooo I bet the cheese sauce is divine <3
gravy
Definitely Fajitas
the fajita mix
I would like to try the Peppercorn Sauce
I’d love to make the chili with cocoa powder, I’ve never tried it before!
I would try the Fajitas mix as we love Fajitas in our house
The fajitas for me 🙂
the fajita mix
The cheese sauce one 🙂
i would try the chilli con carne
The fajitas look very yummy
Gluten Free cottage pie sounds delicious – as they all do! 🙂
Fajitas!
The peppercorn sauce
would love to try the fajita mix
the chilli con carne
Peppercorn xx
I would like to do the chicken casserole for my children x
Cheese sauce if you please x
Chilli con Carne
The fajita mix looks delicious.
Fajitas!
I have recently found out that I am gluten free after getting a test done and have been so sad that I am now very limited to what I can have! I was so excited to see that there is a gluten free cheese sauce!!! So I would try this one first, but I’d also try all of them after. This opens up so many more options for me!!
I know! These little mixes are brilliant, and they’re really affordable too, which is rarely the case with ‘free from’ food.
Aww thank you for replying to me! I know I have been looking into it and seen how pricey it all is 🙁 My food shop is going to be so much now! I will definitely be looking out for these in the supermarkets! Oh and the stuffed peppers look delicious!!
Thanks Clare. I think it’s much more expensive when you get started on your ‘free from’ journey but after a few months (years?), you know how to best substitute and you also know the cheapest brand. It’s also an opportunity to go for meals that are naturally gluten-free. Good luck with everything.
Gravy!
Cottage Pie xx
I’d try the mac and cheese, nom!
Fajitas for def.
I’d try the Gluten Free Chicken Fajitas. Thanks for the lovey giveaway.
My pleasure Jayne!
I’d hit the fajitas!
the fajitas our favourite.
the cottage pie sounds lovely on a sunday night
The peppercorn sauce mix for steak.
I would try the fajita mix first
The chicken casserole, we love chicken in this house
A really good choice there but first I would try the chicken casserole 🙂
I would try the chilli con carne mix first – lovely with a jacket potato 🙂
I would try the cottage pie one first and invite my (coeliac) sister-in-law round to eat it
That’s so nice of you to think of her! Fingers crossed for you lovely.
I’d go for the fajitas first
Am not a needer of Gluten free, but last weekend, found 5 items in the supermarket which attracted me to them… I know not what is going on, but I find myself strangely attracted to them.
The Peppercorn sauce with some chunky steaks 🙂 x
The cheese sauce. A nice base I can jazz up for cauliflower cheese, carbonara etc. Thanks
Love to try the Peppercorn sauce
I think I’d try the spaghetti bolognaise mix first.
would love to try it out in the gravy for our roast
The fajitas as all the family like them
I’d try beef gravy. Mmmmm!
I would try the Peppercorn Sauce first – I love this.
I’d love to try the Gluten Free Chicken Fajitas, yum!
fajitas
spag bol
Cottage pie mix would be totally scrummy!!
The Chicken Casserole Mix sounds delicous
I would try the Cottage Pie first, it’s one of my favourites.
Fajitas!! We all absolutely love Mexican in our home….I’m sure they’d be a hit!
I think the first thing out of the schwartz gluten free recipe mixes would be the Chilli
they all look very interesting – but i would try first the cheese sauce mix for macaroni
Chicken Casserole.
I love fajitas and these are gluten free 🙂
The Fajita mix.
Gluten free cheese sauce sounds rather nice
thanks for the lovely giveaway x
Cottage Pie! x
I thinK I’d have to try the chilli con carne first
I would try the fajita mix as it is a real faff to make from scratch.
I’d try the gravy – really hard to get a nice tasting gluten free one!
Chicken casserole
Would try the Cheese Sauce
The cheese sauce. But those macaroons sound amazing.
I would love to try the Fajita mix first
Love to try the chilli one
Fajita mix, we love fajitas in our house x
fahjitas yummy
so great they’ve launched a gluten free range. i’d try fajita mix first!
Fajita Mix
Cottage pie x
Chilli con carne for us!
Chicken pie
I’d love to try the Gluten Free Chilli con Carne Recipe Mix first 🙂
OOooh I’d love to try the fajitas first as they look sexy.
I would try beef gravy first
The fajitas for a refreshing change xxx fab giveaway thankyou x
Cottage pie would be the first thing we’d try. X
Yummmmyy
The peppercorn sauce
It’s my favourite one. Amazing!
Definitely the fajita mix first. My daughter loves making this dish with me!
Definitely the fajita mix! 🙂
They all sound great but the cottage pie mix would be fab
fajita mix and chilli mix
Chilli con carne
cheese sauce please
the fajita mix
Love cheese sauce so I’d go for that
Fajita mix, particularly as it’s not something I’ve ever cooked and think that the family will really like them
Fajita would be amazing
The chicken casserole
fajitas- I love mexican food so would definitely have this first!
I would try the Spaghetti Bolognese sauce mix first. Thank you.
Chilli Con Carne
The fajitas and the chilli con carne as I can never get my chilli to taste quite right from scratch.
I would try the gravy (on my roast dinner!)
BEEF GRAVY
I’d love to try the chilli con carne first as it’s my favourite!!!
The fajita mix!
The peppercorn sauce with a steak!
The Gravy sounds amazing
I’d love to try the Gluten Free Creamy Pepper Sauce first, sounds delicious!
The chicken casserole mix!
PEPPERCORN SAUCE
Definitely beef gravy
Peppercorn sauce- love it!
Cottage pie <3
Peppercorn Sauce…tried this on cod steaks and it was delicious
The Fajita Mix does it for me. Great served both hot and cold. Lovely.
Fajitas would be my choice
cottage pie
I would try the Chilli Con Carne first 🙂
The cottage pie its a family favourite
Cheese Sauce & spaghetti Bolognese would be my favourites -Scrummy!
Veggie stuffed peppers
The cottage pie, it’s a favourite in my house and I’d love to try a gluten free option.
Probably the Chilli Con Carne mix – though they all sound great!
The Chicken Casserole .. one of our family favourites!
Chilli con Carne
Definitely the Cottage Pie. Its my favourite Dish.
I’d like to try the fajita recipe mix please
I’d love to try the fajitas one!
Cottage pie ❤
i would like to try the cheese sauce
Best graveyard it all looks yum
Cheese sauce … thanks
The fajita recipes look lovely and ones that all the family can get involved in.
Would love to try the Chilli Con Carne one!
I’d love to try the chicken casserole mix – it sounds lovely (though they all do!).
would have to be the cheese sauce for me
Definitely fajita. They’re always a safe bet for when the girls come over for a catch up!
Spaghetti bolognese
Fajitas
chilli con carne
fajitas! My favourite meal 🙂
The cheese sauce for my home made cauliflower cheese
the fajita mix
Pork Cider Casserole
The cottage pie mix for my veggie cottage pie! Yummy! xx
The Peppercorn sauce as I’ve never seen a gf version of this before and would love to have it in my cupboard 🙂
Chilli con carne. Yum
Peppercorn sauce
The cheese sauce for my cauliflower cheese with caramalised onions it’s so Yummytastic. Thanks for the chance xxx
The fajita mix
Chilli con carne! Total favourite!
mmmmm Peppercorn Sauce!
The cheese sauce
I would be keen to try the Cheese Sauce mix. My husband is Coeliac so all his food has to be gluten free. I have never come across these mixes before, probably because I am so used to making sauces etc. from scratch using glluten free food.
Peppercorn Sauce over some Seared Steak and Homemade Chunky Chips!
Would love to try the cheese sauce 🙂 Our little fella has to follow a special diet so this would be handy!
mac and cheese – my daughter’s favourite 🙂
Oooo the fajitas look scrumptious x
I would try the bolognase first as my family love it
I’d try the gravy out as I’m yet to find a nice tasting gf gravy x
The cheese sauce because its so versatile.
It will be the gravy or a cheesecake
Tricky choice but I would have to say gravy
I’d try the cheese sauce first.
Gluten Free Roast Beef Gravy
The Fajitas looks amazing x
Cottage pie as that is a firm favourite in our house and probably the one we would use the most.
love Italian food so would defo try the spaghetti bolognese first!
I would love to try the cheese sauce
The fajita mix would be definitely would be our first choice xx
Would love the Fajitas
I’d like the casserole but I’d try cheese sauce as my kids would avenge it with every meal if they had a choice haha thankyou for this chance x
It’s hard to choose between the fajita or the peppercorn sauce mixes…they both sound delicious!
Peppercorn sauce as I love pepper.
would love to try the Fajitas
Peppercorn Sauce – never tried it before so would love to see if the family likes it.
peppercorn sauce x
The fajitas look delicious
The fajita mix, massive Mexican food fans in this household!
Beef gravy, have missed gravy lol
Faghitas are a big hit in our home 🙂
spaghetti bolognese = yummy!
aww looks good!
Had fajitas the other day for the first time in at least a year, Absolutely delicious and these look delicious too x
chilli con carne
I’d like to try the gluten free cheese sauce it would mean my son could have macaroni cheese with us
I would love to try the gluten free peppered beef casserole. Great prize, thanks for the chance to win 🙂
The cheese sauce
Chicken Casserole ” sounds lovely , the mixes are right up my street so to speak and I love trying out new twists to my dishes
I would love to try the Cheese sauce first
cottege pie sound delicious x
It would have to be fajitas – my favourite!!
I’d love to try the peppercorn sauce
i would try the bolognaise one first x
The fajita mix sounds great
i think i’d like to try the Chilli con carne one first
Gravy! Never have too much gravy 😉
Ohh the Fajitas sound Lush 🙂
I’d love to try the fajita one for the ultimate tasty family feast !!
fajita mix
The faijitas we love them
the cheese sauce
Peppercorn Sauce 🙂
id try the peppercorn sauce for my familys steaks
I’d love to try the peppercorn sauce 😀
Definitely the Cottage Pie first. But they all sound delicious. 🙂
I’d try the peppercorn sauce one first…
oo peppercorn sauce 🙂
Fajitas would be first to try
THE FAJITAS, ITS A FAMILY FAVOURITE HERE
Fajita mix
Definitely chilli con carne – I’ve been craving it for weeks!
would love to try the fajitas mix — sounds so good and I love Mexican food!
the chilli con carne sounds fab
Fajitas are a regular fave on our menu, I’d use that mix first to spice em up a bit!
I would try the Peppercorn Sauce first x
Peppercorn sauce with a big juicy steak!
Fajita mix YUMMMMY
Chicken Casserole
Fajita is a winner in our house, we have 2 children who love to get their hands into their foods.
Chicken Casserole 🙂
The Fajita mix looks great xx
Beef Gravy 🙂
I’d try the gluten free cheese sauce.
Chilli con carne!
Love anything Cheesy so cheese sauce would be fab