Sophs blog

This wonderful memory of my friends came to mind this morning and I just thought I'd write it down along with a few others. My friends are fantastic. I'm sure everyone can say that about their nearest and dearest and when I think back memories from school and sixth form with them I can't help but laugh. Earlier this morning when I was thinking about some funny times I just had to say something about it, so here's a list of a few favorite moments. The Middle Class Antics - Amber, Esme and Lucia brought me granola and yogurt when I had the flu - Me, Amber, Esme and Lucia used to eat olives and chocolate Alpro Soya milk from Budgens after school in the park - Tapas was our Friday night - Esme taught me how to cut an avocado and I did a terrible job - Wednesday dips for lunch with Tilda - Antonio and Tilda's hot tub party Pure Hilarity - Attempting to rap for Georgie and getting attacked by thorns - Drunkenly screaming with laughter with Esme so many times ...

When I was first diagnosed with coeliac disease I thought it literally meant that I couldn't eat bread, but as time went on I realised how much more there is to it. Generally eating out in restaurants is ok but only if I grill the staff about cross contamination.  For coeliacs cross contamination comes down to surfaces not being wiped properly, fryers mixing gluten/non-gluten ingredients, sharing toasters and the way food is made in a factory.  One of the most irritating cross contamination things is chips. When chips are fried in the same oil as something breaded e.g onion rings, I can't eat them. This feels so stupid to me as there is no reason for them to have gluten on them, however some restaurants just don't think that they could be taking away a staple part of a meal for a lot of people.  I also used to work in a cafe where they advertised gluten free toast but failed to mention that they toast it in the same toaster as regular toast. They also put e...

Ahhh Porto, where to begin? The people were lovely, the place was stunning and the food was exceptional. This was a much needed break after university and the realities of grad life. We started our trip flying with TAP Portugal which is one of the nicest airlines I've ever used.. we got free wine! Once we'd landed we got on the metro to our hotel in Balhou. Porto's metro is like a much nicer tube; it's spacious, air conned and very easy to understand. When coming up the stairs of Balhou station we were greeted by this stunning church (one I'd been hoping to see from my Instagram research) which was breathtaking and set a great tone for the holiday.  Our hotel was alright, but its location was why we chose it; it was nice to be in the heart of Porto and made travelling around so easy. On our first evening we went for a glass of wine (standard) and then a concert of Fado and Flamenco which offered a festive introduction to Portuguese culture. We then wen...

I love adding spice to my food and in my eyes the hotter the better. I absolutely adore hot sauce and thought it would be fun to try making my own and was happy with how this one turned out. I decided to use scotch bonnets as you know they're gonna pack a punch. I have to admit I thought I'd smashed it within half an hour of making it. However I tried it and lost my voice due to how spicy it was so ended up bulking it out with extra tomatoes and the result is still hella spicy but you'll be able to speak! For this delicious sauce you will need: (makes 4 jam jars of sauce) - 2 scotch bonnet chllis, chopped - 2 table spoons of red wine vinegar - half a lemons juice - 2 tins of tomatoes - 2 table spoons of tomato puree - one cap of dark rum (not essential but a good thing) - one teaspoon of honey - salt and pepper to taste - water - one white onion, diced - 3-5 cloves of garlic, chopped Method: Start by lightly frying your onion and garlic. When the onion...

As a lover of all things mayo, cheesy and spicy this tuna melt is the ultimate comfort food. I made this today as I've got a dirty cold and felt I needed a) some comfort and b) some spice to blast out the cold. Spice is a really good thing always but particularly when you're under the weather as it opens up your sinuses and gets your nose running a bit which is perfect for getting the lurg out of your system. For this recipe you will need: - a tin of tuna - some sliced bread (I used gluten free Schar) - margarine - cheddar - mayo - Chilli sauce (I used an unbranded chilli sauce from the Turkish shop up the road but otherwise tobasco is a good alternative) - pepper Method: Mix the tuna, mayo, chilli sauce and pepper in a bowl and adjust to taste. I like it quite spicy but start off small with the chilli and work your way up so it isn't spoiled. You don't need salt for this as the tuna and cheese are already salty. Spread margarine over one side of each sli...

When I was first diagnosed with coeliac disease I knew the thing I would miss the most would be fish like calamari, whitebait and taramosalata (which I've written about before). Me and my mum have tried making calamari before and it's been ok but this time we really nailed it; it honestly tasted like the real thing. So for those fish fanatics like me, read on for a gorgeous gluten free calamari recipe.  Calamari: - frozen calamari - gluten free plain flour - salt - pepper - vegetable oil Ailoi:  - 3 tablespoons of mayo - lemon juice - extra virgin olive oil - 1 clove of garlic - salt  - pepper  - lemon wedges to serve Method:  We used frozen calamari from Sainsbury's which was surprisingly super tasty but you can get it fresh from your local fishmongers (we tend to go to Purkis in Muswell Hill or Crouch End).  All you have to do is defrost it and cut it into rings. Season the flour with salt and pepper and coat ...

Luckily for me I have an incredible best friend who was thoughtful and lovely enough to take me away to Brighton for the weekend before my birthday.  I have to admit, I tend to be pretty sceptical of leaving London as I only just moved back and am having a blast. However this weekend blew me away and taught me that it's good to have a break from the big city sometimes.   The main event of our trip was going for a tea for two, something that I never really thought would be offered gluten free yet my friend, Amber, managed to find an incredible coeliac friendly one.  We went to a vegetarian restaurant called Terre De Terre which is a few yards from the sea front. The ambience of the restaurant was lovely and they seated us outside under a golden yellow sun shader. We requested the gluten free tea for two which is 100% coeliac friendly and comes with one savoury plate, three sweet tiers, a glass of prosecco and a tea all for £30.  I cannot begin ...