3 Simple Gluten-Free Veganuary Dishes to Try

Try something different this January by incorporating more vegan meals into your meal plan!

This time of year, many of us tally up all the ways we'd like to improve ourselves over the course of the next 12 months. We set aside lofty aspirations of self-improvement touching on everything from eating better to getting fit. Whether you are of the inclination to make resolutions or not, science consistently tells us that reducing the amount of animal products and meat we consume (especially red meats) is one of the best things we can do for our bodies. 

In light of this, and in an effort to spread more about the benefits of veganism, January has been dubbed Veganuary--a time for encouraging others to break with the traditions of meat at every meal and to embrace, even if for a limited time, a plant-based diet.  Here are 3 simple and delicious dishes you can try to introduce yourself to the vegan diet. As always, all three of these recipes are gluten-free, too!

Gluten-Free Rolo Pretzels

These easy-to-make Rolo pretzels are brilliant festive treats are the perfect balance of sweet and salty and they're gluten-free!

Yield: 24 sandwiches
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 1 minute

Gluten-Free Chocolate Caramel Pretzels

This time of year, the kitchen cupboards are filled to the brim with sweet treats, cookies and biscuits. These pretel sandwich cookies are popular in America as a Christmas treat and a perfect for children to make. Made with mini gluten-free pretzels and Rolo chocolate caramels, they're the perfect combination of sweet and salty and you'll keep going back for more!

Last Minute Foodie Gifts for Secret Santa from B&M

A selection of last minute foodie gifts for your Secret Santa match from B&M!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for B&M. I have been compensated for this post, however all opinions remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company. Should you choose to purchase the products shown, I will not receive a commission or any monetary compensation. You can review my disclosure policy in full here.

2017 Christmas Gift Guide

A selection of unusual and lovely Christmas gift ideas for foodies!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I have been compensated for this post, however all opinions remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company. Should you choose to purchase the products shown, I will not receive a commission or any monetary compensation. You can review my disclosure policy in full here.

#NoDullDays with Bassetts Vitamins

Give your kids the added vitamin D, calcium and all the nutrients they need with a daily delicious peach and apricot multivitamin from Bassett's Vitamins!

Any honest parent will tell you that raising children is sometimes a battlefield. Especially when health, nutrition and wellness are concerned. Every single one of us will have fights with our children, whether it's over eating their broccoli, brushing their teeth every day or taking their vitamins. Say bye-bye to those cute smiles and angelic faces if you're offering anything other than chicken nuggets and chips. 

A daily multivitamin is an excellent way of ensuring your angelic picky eaters get all of the nutrients they require--and they won't even realise they're eating something that's good for them! In fact, I'm not adverse to plying your frisky five-year-old with a bit of a white lie and letting them believe that they're in fact munching down on a sweet and not a vitamin.

Bassett's Vitamins have been our choice of children's vitamins since our son was 3 years old, but this new flavour of peach and apricot is chock full of vitamin D and calcium, both of which are necessary for normal bone growth and development in children. And, you know what? These vitamins taste great, too!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Bassetts Vitamins. I have been compensated for this post, however all opinions remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company. Should you choose to purchase the product, I will not receive a commission or any monetary compensation. You can review my disclosure policy in full here.

With this easy, fail-proof recipe, you'll be able to enjoy classic gluten free buffalo wings anytime you want!

Yield: 4 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes

The Best Damn Gluten-Free Buffalo Wings

Is there anything better than hot wings? (Hint, the answer is no; there isn't.) And when you're gluten free, buffalo wings are one of the first things off the menu. But with this easy recipe, you can enjoy hot wings again and these are so good you can even serve them to your friends who can eat gluten and they won't notice a difference!

Best Ever Gluten-Free Deep Dish White Pizza - #GBBOGlutenFree

Make the best from scratch gluten free deep dish pizza, so easy to whip up and ready in minutes!

Gluten-Free Deep Dish Chicken Pizza

On last week's episode of the Great British Bake Off, the contestants tackled hand-tossed pizza. Admittedly, with gluten free pizza, it'd be pretty difficult to hand toss it since there's no gluten in it to give it the stretchyness it needs. So instead, this is a tried and true recipe for deep dish gluten free pizza. You'll absolutely love it! The recipe is for a chicken-based white pizza but you should use the toppings you like best--anything and I mean anything will taste delicious on this base and you won't even believe it's gluten free. Grab the gluten free deep dish white chicken pizza recipe here.

5 Bonfire Night Gluten-Free Dinners

These five gluten-free meals are perfect for serving on Bonfire Night while you watch the fireworks!

Bonfire Night, the 5th of November, Guy Fawke's Night -- no matter what you call it, it's the perfect time for getting together with friends and family under a blanket of stars on a chilly autumn night and watching the fireworks overhead. Add in a warming bowl of something hearty and delicious and you're all set for celebrating in style! 

 

Bonfire Night is one of my favourite nights of the year--we love to drive around, seeing all the glowing bonfires and watching the fireworks over the city from the comfort and warmth of our car. We usually pick the highest spot that overlooks the city, park our car and watch the fireworks explode, filling our tummies with snacks and hot drinks. The night usually begins with a hearty meal at home beforehand and we're suckers for something warming and filling and inherently autumnal.

 

Below you'll find 5 of the best gluten free comforting meals to enjoy on Bonfire Night. I've also included my favourite indulgent gluten free sticky toffee pudding brownies and a super easy recipe for lactose free pumpkin spice lattes you can make at home and fill a flask with before you head out! Remember, remember, the 5th of November!

Gluten-Free Portuguese Custard Tarts - #GBBOGlutenFree

These mini gluten-free Portuguese tarts are the perfect flaky treat, filled with rich custard and a hint of cinnamon and vanilla!

Yield: 16 mini tarts
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 17 minutes

Gluten-Free Portuguese Custard Tarts

For years I've seen Portuguese custard tarts in shops and restaurants and could never bring myself to try them. It was something about the perceived texture of them that put me off. It's such a shame because these little treats are absolutely incredible! They're easy to whip up but look as if they take an absolute age. 

A note on the texture: they've got the feel of crème brûlée! Infact, that's essentially what these tarts are: mini crème brûlée in a flaky pastry crust. There's nothing to worry about, just whip up a custard base like for homemade ice cream and you're all set to go! I've stuck with the traditional approach and added in a pinch of cinnamon and made mine out of puff pastry as they'd do in Portugal. But you could use shortcrust pastry if you can't find ready made gluten free puff. 

Now, the contestants on Great British Bake Off made their own puff pastry from scratch, which you can certainly do yourself, but be warned, making gluten-free puff is crazy enough to drive you insane. Even the shop bought gluten-free puff pastry can be difficult to handle!

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Chocolate Lava Cake #GBBOGlutenFree

Wow your family and friends with this super easy, uber indulgent gluten-free chocolate lava cake and it's dairy-free, too! Plus, this is my recent #GBBOGlutenFree recipe!

 

Yield: 4 lava cakes
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Chocolate Lava Cake

Y'all. Lava cakes or molten cakes are absolutely amazing and they're often the star of the dessert menu at restaruants and you know what? They are incredibly easy to make! You'll especially love these as there's not too much sugar, and they're gluten-free and dairy-free--oh yeah!

Lava cakes are the most dramatic cakes -- you cut into it and they ooze rivers of hot molten chocolate like lava. The trickest thing is making sure you delicately remove them from the baking molds because the slightest knick and they'll gush too soon, ruining the dramatic moment. I served ours with a dusting of icing/confectioner's sugar and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but these are yummy with fresh fruit or custard or whipped cream, too.

Oh and you know what? You can totally make these the day before a big party or event! All you need todo is make them as the recipe states. After they have cooled for 10 minutes, wrap them in plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate. Then, when you are ready to serve, remove the cakes from the ramekins or molds and onto a plate and microwave for about 30 seconds - watch it carefully, too long and they'll start to ooze!