Summer Lovin'

I can't believe it's the first day of summer already, I just wish the weather would reflect the season. It has been pouring rain here all day. I can only pray that the weather will have a change of heart and allow the sun to shine soon. 

Random Artsy Picture Vol II - Sunflowers For Summer

The one thing I love about this time of year are the food festivals! There are so many going on around the country, I can literally spend my weekends driving from town to town visiting all the different foodie events, which probably explains why I haven't had time to blog as much as I would like to! I know I am well overdue in putting up a new blog post... apologies in not being a more regular blogger of late. I'm not suffering from 'blog fatigue' - I've just found that life has suddenly taken over and is preventing me from doing all the stuff I like to do such as ideally spending time here on my blog. Since running the giveaway competition this past May, I have literally been inundated with recommendations to add to my Eat Out and Off The Shelf pages. I have slowly but surely been adding all this new information to the pages, with yet still more to publish! A happy complaint, as I really want these pages to be quite definitive. I also haven't finished updating the map on my Eat Out page, I have more places listed on the page than are actually on the map, but I intend to complete the map soon. It's all a matter of getting time to sit down and log the information! Something I seem to be short on these days.

If you haven't heard already, I have a new Twitter account http://twitter.com/GF_Photographer I'm only starting to really understand how it works, but I intend to use it in conjunction with my Facebook page. Both of which you can find links for over on the right hand side of this blog *points in that direction over there* If you aren't already following me there, you're very welcome to :) They're handy sites to update with random (and sometimes useful!) pieces of information and goings on in my gluten free world.

I've come across a few things of note from the web:

- Mark Doe, Glutenzone's chef (http://glutenzone.ie/) has added a listing on his website for exclusive gluten free recipes HERE. This has just started, so I expect this will be a growing list of tasty gluten free recipes. Probably worth keeping your eye on.

- The Cake & Crumb (http://www.thecakeandcrumb.biz/) have announced on their facebook page, 'We are delighted to say that from this week we are 'on board' with Eco Direct. All our delicious breads, mixes, cakes etc.. To get us started we are running a promotion..when you buy a full sized loaf you get a bag of mini loaves free... so pop online and add some to you usual order.... :)' How great! Check out Eco Direct http://www.ecodirect.ie/ (also listed on my Off The Shelf page) for all things gluten free. 

- Genius Gluten Free (http://www.geniusglutenfree.com/) - those fine people who make the most delicious gluten free bread - have just launched a new gluten and wheat free frozen pastry range. They have Genius Steak & Ale pies, Chicken & Mushroom pies, Cornish Slices and Ready Roll Short Crust pastry. This is good news for those of you who live north of the border, as they are now available in select Tesco stores in the UK - but they are yet to launch their range here in the south, though I was told that they intend to do so in the future. However, it's not too far these days to hop across the border - why not take the opportunity to stock up on some Genius Gluten Free frozen goodies.

- Gookies, if you don't know of this wonderful  product already, it is a handmade wheat free, gluten free cookie dough roll that is just delicious. They are currently doing various tastings around the country - keep an eye on their facebook page HERE to find out where they will be next so you can give them a try. They are so yummy! They are also looking for new stockists, so where would you like to be able to buy their products? Why not let them know on their facebook page.

What's going on in my kitchen:

To celebrate summer, we're currently in the middle of brewing a batch of Elderflower Champagne. Irish Elder trees seem to be really flourishing this year, so it seemed an ideal time to experiment with some home brew.  Why not give it a go yourself. My husband is the one in charge of the project and he is using Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's recipe, via this blogger's post: http://www.thefood.ie/2010/06/free-booze-elderflower-champagne.html a great step-by-step guide found here, with handy pictures to follow along to. If you're interested, just be aware you probably have until the end of June to pick the best of the flowers. Let me know if you decide to go ahead with it! I'd love to know if there are others out there taking advantage of seasonal wild foods.

I would just like to thank everyone again who has helped me in my quest to make this blog as informative and helpful as possible. Please feel free to drop me a line via my email, my facebook page or through twitter if you want to see anything new added to the pages on this blog. All suggestions are welcome.