Seven steps to Banoffee Pie Heaven - dairy free, gluten free and soya free!!

What!!! You've put bananas in it?!?!

Banoffee Heaven!

Kiddo was truly outraged! 

Like why on earth (in her humble opinion) would anyone ruin something so tasty sounding, by adding something as healthy as FRUIT??!!

But she, of course had never had Banoffee Pie, and the last time I ate one, was... well before she ever came along, for sure. If only I had known then, what I know now... well, I think I would have made sure I ate a whole lot more... whilst I still could!!

It's taken me a while, but finally, I have got 'round to making my own - dairy, gluten and soya free - thanks to a few key ingredients, which up until now, were not available to me!

Et voila!

Lookee here!

A while back, I noted, in a Free From magazine, that a Chinese Supermarket which also sells its products online, was now stocking dairy free condensed milk made from coconut. I was chuffed at the time, because I had been researching recipes online, so I could make dairy free condensed milk, so I could make my own caramel. BUT... anything that you can buy ready made... well why wouldn't you??

I took a while to get 'round to actually purchasing some, but by the time I did, I noticed their range had extended - to include some vital Banoffee ingredients: caramel sauce and whipping cream. 

Job's  a good 'un!! 

Thought I, and I promptly ordered some (from here, in case you're wondering*)!!

I then ordered my fave (and only suitable) digestives - Barkat's gluten free digestives (see here), which are also dairy free and soya free, then set to work!

Ingredients:

I pack Barkat digestive biscuits (150g)

65g Pure Sunflower margarine

2 large bananas

1 jar of coconut caramel sauce

1 tin of coconut whipping cream (chilled in advance)

1 bar Moo Free Chocolate

You will also need:

20 cm round non-stick tin with lift out base (greased)

Method:

1. Use a wooden rolling pin to take out your aggression on the packet of digestives, until you're left with fine crumbs. You can use a food processor, of course, but I find bashing biscuits rather therapeutic! 

2. Melt the margarine in a small saucepan, then combine with the breadcrumbs. Ease this mixture into the base of your tin. Use the back of a spoon, to pat it into place. Cover with cling film and leave in the fridge to chill for around 1/2 hour.

3. Take the base from the fridge and spread the contents of the jar of caramel sauce across the base.

4. Chop the bananas into even slices and spread across the layer of caramel.

5. Take the can of chilled whipping cream and whip at full speed, as per the instructions on the tin. You really do need to chill the coconut cream first. I left it in the fridge overnight. Alternatively, you could try making your own cream, using chilled coconut milk. I have done this in the past, and had variable results with other coconut milks, but this one did work.

6. Use a spatula to gently spread the cream over the layer of banana. Then grate some sprinkles of chocolate over the top. Job done!! Now you can either leave in the fridge to chill, or...

7. Remove from the tin, by placing the tin on an upturned dessert bowl, and gently, pushing the sides down, before lifting the base. Then just serve straight onto plates and tuck in! Of course, you could also just eat it straight from the baking tin, if you're desperate, but only if you're intending to eat it all yourself. However, I wouldn't advise the second approach. A pud like this, needs, nay deserves to be savoured in measured pieces - take it from me, you really can have too much of a good thing! ;)

* Oh and just to add, other places, besides the Chinese supermarket are also beginning to stock Nature's Charm. Ocado have had the evaporated milk and condensed milk on their system for a few weeks, but up until now, they didn't appear to be in stock. They now seem to be available and are on special offer, so what are you waiting for? Hopefully, these will prove so popular, that they'll soon add the caramel sauce and whipping cream to their range. Another place to look for these ingredients is Ethica - an online Vegan store.

Please note: 

This post is not an advert. I have not been paid to write this post. I am not sponsored in any way, even by advertising. I do not receive products free to review, although I have often been offered them. This is to try and maintain an unbiased approach. All views expressed are my own (unless I've asked for The Hub's or Kiddo's). I try to tell is 'as-it-is'.

Other pud posts you may enjoy:

Easy Peasy Banana Custard

Autumnal Apple Crumble

Deli Divine - The Deli with a Difference!

Have you ever wished you could walk into a shop and be free to eat anything within it? Or, is your dream to be able to open just such a shop yourself? Well, that was Debra's dream. And recently she fulfilled it, when she opened her own shop Deli Divine. 

Et voila!

Here's what to look out for!

Having been a coeliac for a fair old time (twenty years in fact), Debra's shop is dedicated first and foremost to goodies that are gluten free. However, many of the products that she has in stock are dairy free as well. 

Visiting the shop the other day, I was delighted to discover many products are also soya free. Bonus!! 

Based near the entrance of a small industrial estate in Netley, near Southampton (don't switch off, there's something for everyone here - she also sells online), Debra's shop is packed with breads, pies, cakes, biscuits, packet mixes, desserts, preserves... you get the idea, right??

I first came across Deli Divine, when I visited The Allergy Show a few months back. Well, I say I came across - I didn't get close enough to examine the stand as it was completely surrounded by folks eager to get their hands on the products Debra had on sale.

Some of the produce stocked is by well-known gluten free brands, such as Isabel's, and Moo Free, but there's also newcomers such as B-Free and smaller producers as well. There were even a few of the elusive but very highly-regarded Foodamentalist  products. These I was keen to see, as I have heard so much about them but have been unable to sample, until now, due to geography (The Foodamentalists are based in Cheshire). 

Genuinely great pastry!

I really couldn't walk away from Deli Divine without buying an award-winning Foodamentalist Pork Pie, and I have to say the pastry was amazing - I never knew you could make gluten, dairy and soya free pastry so well! I only wish I could get my hands on the doughnuts they make!!

In fact, I came away with a whole stash of free from goodies (don't tell The Hub - bank balance and all that), that I can't include here, as I haven't managed to taste them all yet, but the Baked to Taste Lemon Drizzle cake has to get a mention, as I had that today. I honestly don't think I've ever tasted one better.

A handbag-sized delicious slice!

I think it'll have to go on my list of things-to-take-to-a-do-when-you're-worried-about-what-you'll-eat. 

I've only recently come across Baked to Taste, but I love them already. They deserve a whole blog post of their own. As well as cake slices, they also make a range of pies and ready-made pastry, many of which are also stocked by Debra (they're also on the menu at Celiacs Fayre). 

My bag was actually fuller than this!!

If you live within range, and wish to visit Deli Divine, it's not as hard to find as I thought it would be - it's a few miles off junction 8 of the M27. The directions I got from Google Maps were pretty clear. However, I would advise avoiding rush hour and any time after 3pm in the afternoon, as Hamble Lane can get rather busy!

Shopping online is perhaps a bit less tricky for most, especially if yo don't live anywhere near the shop! The website is easy enough to navigate, and there's free delivery on orders over £35, but if you visit the shop, you may well find a few extra products in store that aren't available online. And also, you get the added bonus of meeting the delightful Debra - with her extensive product knowledge. Having sampled and experimented with with many of the products herself, she's more than happy to pass on the odd tip or two!

The shop is perhaps a little bit of a way for me to go for regular visits, but many of these products are stored in the freezer - which obviously extends their shelf life. So as long as I can get them home still frozen, I can fill up my freezer and they'll be ready for when I want them, but, there's always the online option. Also, unlike your normal Health Food Store (with the exception of shops such as Whole Foods Market and Food for Thought) Deli Divine has a range that's worth the journey. However, with Deli Divine you also get a Free From shop run by someone who knows, if you know what I mean! 

P.S. If you're considering making a trek to visit the shop, for yourself, there are a number of local attractions, especially for history buffs! Netley is quite close to Southampton (which has a branch of IKEA), but Netley itself boasts a small ruined abbey (great for photos, exploring and picnics) and the Royal Victoria Country Park (once the site of a military hospital). Or go back towards the M27, the other side of which is Manor Farm Country Park, where a BBC series 'The Wartime Farm' was recently filmed. A bit further towards Portsmouth (home of the Naval Dockyards), is Hamble, a really cute waterside backwater. So, you can pick up your provisions from Deli Divine, then go out and explore - go on, you know you want to!

Update:
Deli Divine has unfortunately had to close (April 2014). This is really sad, as so much effort and thought went into setting up this business and it was a great way of getting hold of some lovely products that the supermarkets just don't stock. However, Debra has some new plans in the pipeline for something else. I'm waiting to hear more and wishing her all the best!