A pud would be good!

I DO love a good pud, don't you?? In fact so much so, that at one time, some friends and I would go out just for pud. Well, we might actually go for a walk somewhere nice first, but usually with the intention of stopping off somewhere that we knew we could obtain a tasty treat.

There was a dark time in my life when it seemed that there were puddings NO MORE - back when Baby was first diagnosed!! Then, to my rescue, came my parent's version of dairy free apple crumble and dairy free custard!

Our family staple!

Although, (to use a phrase much beloved of politicians these days) let me be clear about this - when I talk about custard I don't mean that cheffy stuff, made with eggs. No, I mean the stuff that Mr Bird invented, way back in 1837, because his wife was allergic to eggs. Now, the reason I go for Bird's custard is partly because Bird's is what I grew up with (although made with syrup, rather than sugar - you must try it this way, it's much more yummy) and partly because, well, custard made the other way is such hard work!!

I wonder if you're anything like me? I love watching TV chefs at work; I feel so inspired by the stuff they turn out, but... When I look at the list of ingredients... it's long, in all likelihood there's probably some that I've never even heard of and others that I don't get because we'd never use the quantities in which you're forced to buy it.

Then there's the washing up. If, like me, you're without a dishwasher, cooking equates with washing up  - which I do enough of anyway!! Certainly my baby thinks so. "Not washing up again!" she has been known to wail - at the sight of me in my rubber gloves.

Actually, although I do love a good pud, more often than not I don't have one these days. Partly because I can't be faffed; partly because at the end of a meal I can't physically fit more food in, and partly because The Hub (although, as I've mentioned before, he's partial to a bit of creme brûlée) isn't usually much of a pudding eater anyway. Sometimes, however, it can be nice to have a little something to round off a meal. So what are the options? Well, this is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are some ideas* that you might like to try:

Minimal preparation 

(eat it out of the carton)

Thankfully, even when dairyfree there are some options that don't require too much preparation. Although, having said that, most of them are not much good for the soya free amongst us, unfortunately.

• Pudology now produce a range of delicious puds. They are dairy and gluten free and can now be bought from loads of places, like Ocado, Tesco, Holland & Barrett and Waitrose.

• Tesco also make a small range of free from desserts, that you can find in their free from chiller section, in their larger stores.

• Alpro produce a small range of long life deserts. I've not tried these personally, but Baby has had the chocolate variety and it seemed to go down very well indeed! They also produce yoghurts and a ready mix custard. These, however, will be no good for you, if, like me, you need to avoid soya. 

A fruitful option!

• Summer pudding - from the chiller cabinet at Waitrose. I tried this, before I was forced to go wheat/gluten free. It's tangy and fruity. If a little tart for your tastebuds (and let's face it, fruit can be) try adding a dash of Oatly cream substitute. Or, if you can tolerate soya, Alpro do a ready mixed custard which is available from most supermarkets. Otherwise try adding a spoonful of dairy free ice cream - there are various options available. (blog, on ice cream, to follow shortly).

• Jelly fruit pots - available in most supermarkets. Long life, not that inspiring, but OK (maybe) for an emergency.

• Fruit Sorbet - something that I think more restaurants could provide. After all what is so difficult  (for a chef, I mean) about making a batch or two and storing it in the freezer? If you're not the cheffy type, I suggest you check your supermarkets frozen section. Watch out though - occasionally it can be made with dairy, so always check. Bit light on the calories though, for real pudding lovers.

Next to minimal prep 

Ready mixed! What could be easier?

(take it out and bung it together - some chopping, straining or gentle heating may be required)

• Meringue nests - available in most supermarkets. Fill with chopped fruit - fresh or from a can (obviously strain the juice off first, to stop the meringue from going soggy). Accompany with dairy free ice cream, yoghurt or cream substitute.

• Freefrom apple pie/mince pie - available in packs of four from Tescos or Sainsbury's. These could be heated, if you prefer them hot. Nice with custard, I think, but unless you can tolerate soya (in which case you could heat some ready mixed) it could be a bit of a faff!

Look! Baked Plum and Almond Pudding also available!

• Treacle Sponge Pudding by (the aptly named) The Pudding Club. It is available from Waitrose. Sadly, it is now off my list, because it contains wheat, I can, however, safely say it is YUMMY! Waitrose also produce their own version (which I think is one and the same) if you can't find this one, in the chiller cabinet. Several of The Pudding Clubs other puddings are also suitable (not obviously containing milk products) but be warned - don't go for their Bread and Butter Pudding (the clue, unsurprisingly, is in the word, 'Butter')!

• Eve's Pudding by Waitrose. I've not tried this, but it looks good! Custard might be in order here.

• Banana Custard - not sophisticated, but good comfort food! Chop up a medium banana, stir together with dairy free custard, and away you go!!

• Banana Split - minus the cream. Combine banana and your choice of dairy free ice cream, however you please! Decorate with chopped nuts, hundreds and thousands, glace cherries or grated dairy free chocolate. In fact, while we're about it, you could, in fact, make up any kind of ice cream sundae you like (minus cream and wafers though unfortunately)!!

• Fruit Salad - hardly a pudding in my view (not enough calories) but wash and chop up the fruit of your choice, add some syrup water and serve with a blob or two of dairy free ice cream.

• Sticky Toffee Pudding - Sainsbury's own free from version. I've not tried this but might have to give this one a go.

Bit more effort required 

(ok, so a little bit more cooking skill needed now)

• Apple Crumble - of course it doesn't have to be apple; use whatever fruit you prefer, I also love rhubarb in my crumble. Serve with dairy free custard, or ice cream.

• Fruit Flan - the base is basically a fat-less sponge. Replace the butter (for greasing) with Pure margarine. Once cooked and cooled, make some jelly. When this is half-set, add fresh, tinned or stewed fruit, then fill your flan case. Serve with cream or yoghurt substitute, dairy free ice cream or even dairy free custard!

• Rice pudding - make it in the usual way, but just use your preferred milk substitute.

• Baked Apple - made with Bramley apples. Most recipes tell you to use butter, but the way my parents have always done it, is just to core a big cooking apple; score around the circumference, with a knife (to let the apple expand, as it heats up) and stuff the core with dates and brown sugar (although you could use other dried fruit and even nuts, if you prefer). The apples are then placed in an oven-proof dish (whose bottom is just covered with a little water) and the apples are sprinkled with about a dessert spoonful of water before being baked in the oven, at around Gas mark 4 for about 40 minutes. When cooked, serve with a dairy free accompaniment of your choice and drizzle the sauce (that has gathered around the apples, whilst cooking) over the top!

• Upside-down Pudding. You can use canned or fresh fruit. Top with sponge mixture and bake. Accompany with dairy free cream, ice cream, custard or yogurt (I love Coyo, for this).

• Apple Flan. If you can't be bothered to make dairy free pastry, I believe some of the ready to roll pastry in supermarkets is dairy free. Tesco now sell Jus-Roll gluten free pastry, which is also dairy and soya free, as is Silly Yak pastry. Alternatively, I think Sainsbury's Basics (frozen) Apple pie is dairy free - just get it out, heat it up, add some custard and you're ready to roll!

• Trifle - made without cream, or with Nature's Charm whipping Cream (buy online from Wing Yip). Make fat free sponge, in a tray rather than a flan tin. Chop it up and place it in the bottom of a large bowl. Make some jelly, add fruit when half set and layer the mixture over the sponge. Layer dairy free custard over the top. Then add a layers of dairy free whipped cream, and add sprinkles of whatever variety you require - flaked almonds, chopped dried fruit, hundreds and thousands, dairy free chocolate, etc.

• Soya Cheesecake - minus the cheese. Try this recipe from 'Milk-Free Zone' by SNDRi. Melt 25g of Pure, mix in 6 crushed milk free biscuits (eg. Hobnobs or Doves Digestives) and press into ramekins (4x6cms). Spoon 500g of soya yoghurt/dessert over the top. Add a layer of strawberries (about 8 halved strawberries should do it). Then, make some vegetarian quick-jel jelly and spread thinly over the fruit. Refrigerate, for about 30 mins.

Proper cooking (I'm a wannabe chef get me out of here!)

Not my area of expertise - see above! However, try the Pure website - they do recipes. There are also other online dairy free recipes, some of which may be American, so you may need to translate some of the measurements. Alternatively, there are a few good cooking blogs out there. I like Pig in the Kitchen, although (surprise, surprise) I haven't actually tried out any of the recipes yet!

It may be, however, that you have a good recipe, or idea, and you'd like to share it with us, please feel free, we'd love to hear from you!!


* Please note: ideas not recipes. Remember, I'm no Nigella although I have included links to some online recipes (not necessarily dairy free, so substitute where you need to) where I can, to be helpful!

More on the Easter Bunny's progress

Getting a bit impatient with the Sainsbury's/Kinnerton's Dairy Free Easter Bunny now. Supposedly available in 'selected' stores, I've been to the three Sainsbury's near me several times (two of which are large stores) and am yet to find one - and I have family (in different parts of the UK) on the case too!

They may, of course, just be waiting for Mother's Day to be over and done with first - to make more room in the seasonal aisle. But time is running out now... (taps toe in frustration).

Meanwhile, the dairy free 'milk' chocolate egg that I was looking for in Tescos has made an appearance elsewhere! Spotted in Holland & Barrett alongside a 'white chocolate' one!! The white one is smaller but has cute bunnies on it - now that's a bit more like it!! The packaging on the others hasn't changed from last year, but at least I know what to look for. And if you're shopping in Holland & Barrett right now it's 'Buy one get one half price time' - bargainous!! 

Woo hoo! Choices - aptly named!

One a penny, two a penny...

I like mine with marmalade.

Well apart from the packaging and possibly size (maybe the Sainos one is slightly bigger) I can't really tell the two apart.

With Easter just around the corner, I'm looking at Tescos and Sainsbury's Free From hot cross buns. Baby's not fussed, 'cos she doesn't know what she's missing, but me (being brought by parents who loved them) can't quite feel that I've 'done' Easter without them.

There's really not much difference between the two - neither have that lovely gooeyiness that you have with 'normal' hot cross buns (bought from the shop). Both are dry and have a funny graininess about them. Tescos handily packages them individually - good idea because (being dry enough already) unless you've got your whole family eating free from, you're hardly going to want to use them all in one sitting. 

Like stale bread, best recommendation is that you slice them in half like a tea cake; toast them; slap on a bit of dairy free spread and then a bit of home made marmalade. 

Marmalade? I you hear you ask why? Well it was what my parents did and funnily enough it does seem to go quite well - it certainly takes off the dryness. Haven't convinced Baby yet though. Ah well! Took me a few years to develop a taste for food that had dried fruit as an ingredient. She'll get there eventually!

And there's more... Milk substitutes

Look what I found!

Lookee here!  Not content with soya, and almond, it seems like Alpro is going all out to become the milk substitute of choice! Alpro has now brought out a 'hazelnut drink' (spotted in the chiller cabinet at Tescos the other day and also on the shelf at Waitrose). 

Although I think choice is a good thing, I'm not sure that bringing out more nut based milk substitutes is a good idea. It makes me wonder what Alpro's rationale is - especially as nut allergies are so common these days. 

I haven't tried it yet, I wonder if anyone else has given it a go...

Personally, what I'd like them to do, is to expand their dessert and yoghurt ranges  - making them with something else other than soya (as many people who are intolerant of dairy also cannot tolerate soya). Now there's an idea!

An Addendum to Winter Warmers

The new kid  on the block!

Stop Press! Excitement of excitements - another update! You may have read my post, the other week, on dairy free hot chocolate. Well it seems that I no longer have to make mine the old-fashioned way, using cocoa powder - as I found out in my most recent trip to my local Tesco Extra. 

Not to be outdone by Oatley, Alpro and the like, Kara, (who make coconut milk) have now brought out a chocolate version! And yes! I have not wasted any time - I have already purchased some and tried it! 

To my mind, it tastes very similar to the kind of hot chocolate instants you can buy (if you are able to tolerate dairy) like the one produced by Galaxy. It's very sweet, kind of syrupy in flavour. However, having become recently reacquainted with my old-fashioned version (made with Green and Blacks) I'm not sure how ready I am to like this new version. Still you never know, I've got most of the carton left and it may yet grow on me! 

Hmm! Now, I wonder how it might taste cooked with some pudding rice for a few hours? It could be good, or... well I've never claimed to be a Nigella now, have I?

Update: Kara, has since been renamed 'Koko'

Update on the hunt for the Dairy Free Easter Bunny

Wow! That was unexpected! No sooner have I posted on the subject of dairy free Easter eggs, than there is an important update, or two in fact!

First of all, the Easter bunny has visited Tescos! Kinnerton's dark chocolate bar has morphed into the form of an egg. The egg's packaging very much reflects the design of the chocolate bar's and so perhaps appeals more to adults.

Secondly, at some Sainsbury's, it is apparently possible to obtain perhaps the most normal looking dairy free Easter egg I have come across so far!! Kinnerton's have created an egg definitely aimed at children - clearly packaged with the intention of appealing to the Simpson's and Winnie the Pooh fans in our midst! It looks like it could be a 'milk' chocolate type of egg, accompanied by jelly sweets.

So now all I have to do is hunt that Sainsbury's Easter bunny. I think Baby might well be up for one of those Winnie the Pooh ones... now how to track one down?

On the trail of the Dairy Free Easter Bunny!

The Hub has made it easy for me this year (not that he's dairy free anyway). 'Don't buy me anything,' he said (having left his eggs of previous years gloriously uneaten). Baby, however, has already caused me problems by diving on tubs of creme eggs, left (quite negligently, in my opinion) within her reach in the aisles of the supermarkets or by grabbing chocolate bunnies from the shelves. She clearly has her eyes on the prize - chocolate!! 

No one has had to teach Baby, funnily enough, how to enjoy chocolate - she just does! Neither has anyone had to teach her how to spot it in the supermarket - she just can -even when it's disguised as a brightly coloured bunny!! What she doesn't yet know, though, is how to tell apart the chocolate she's allowed from the chocolate that would make her feel bad. And is it just  me, or have you also noticed that the big stores have been selling Easter Eggs since Christmas? So much temptation in Baby's way, whenever we go to the supermarket! 

Last year it wasn't so bad - Baby was in ignorant bliss of the chocolate lined shelves and was quite happy with the big fluffy bunny that Granny gave her... as well as the odd morsel of dairy free chocolate that she filched from me, but this year... Thinking that (come Easter) Baby might like an Easter Egg of her own, I've been desperately scanning the shelves at Tescos for weeks now - looking for the dairy free egg they stocked last year, right alongside all the others. 

It was almost unique in the dairy free Easter Egg world for being the nearest thing to a milk chocolate egg that (even if it was a bit on the small side) looked 'normal'. The reason I've been keeping my eyes open, is that last year (not surprisingly) it disappeared quickly from their shelves. However, this year it has been disappointingly absent... so far! Thankfully, should it not appear on the shelves, there are some other options!

Speciality Chocolate 

A lot of speciality chocolate makers also make chocolate that is Vegan and therefore dairy free but the chocolate they produce tends to be dark chocolate.

The prize for the most extravagant should almost certainly be awarded to Hotel Chocolat for their Gianduja  egg. Thankfully they also produce a smaller cheaper version as well as some Dark Chocolate Tiddly Chicks which are cute! These are all marked as Vegan.

Cocoa Loco - makers of organic chocolate, who produce Vegan and dairy free chocolate as part of their range. Look out for their dark chocolate bunny lollies.

Montezumas - apparently one of the Guardian's Top Ten ethical traders, they produce 'Traded Fairly' chocolate, some of which is also Vegan.

Willie's Produce dark chocolate slabs, but not eggs unfortunately. Definitely aimed at the discerning customer, you may think that they're very expensive (for what you get) but then you are buying artisan chocolate! These are available from Waitrose. 

Dairy Free Easter Eggs Online

Chocolate makers that solely produce dairy free chocolate do exist. Not always quite so widely available, but obtainable online, these often produce a chocolate which is more like milk chocolate.

Moo Free chocolate prides itself on being organic. I've read reviews that rate this chocolate quite highly. In my opinion, it is quite similar to milk chocolate but is a bit sugary for my liking. 

D & D Chocolates also seem to produce a 'milk' chocolate. I've not personally tried these. Their selection offers eggs of various sizes, from the bunny hunt variety to the larger boxed version.

Siesta Carob produce a pack of small hollow eggs which are available from Goodness Direct (who sell quite a range of different options, some of which have been featured here).

Perhaps the most decadent looking of the dairy free options, and certainly the most exquisitely packaged, are Booja Booja's  truffle-filled papier-mache eggs. These can be bought online, but their website can also direct you to your nearest stockist. They are organic but be warned - they aren't that big and are quite a pricey option!

If you're interested in investigating some of these options, then it could be worth taking a look at Animal Aid - which is basically an online Vegan shop. 

Dairy Free Easter Eggs at the Supermarkets

There are not many options in this category, but there are a few!

Celtic Chocolate's Easter Egg is available at Ocado and Waitrose and is made of dark chocolate. It's fine, if you like dark chocolate, but the packaging is a bit uninspiring - although you could buy one of these as well as a 'normal' Easter egg in more interesting packaging and do a swap!

Sainsbury's Free From Easter Egg is also dark chocolate (it's not on their website unfortunately). Not that attractively packaged in my opinion! I'd want to sprinkle some (tasteful) spring daisy stickers all over it.

Humdinger's Dairy Free Easter Bunny milk chocolate bar (not an egg unfortunately) really is an Easter Bunny - if a little on the flat side! It is another milk chocolate alternative. It was available from Sainsbury's last year and is apparently also being sold at Waitrose this year.

'May contain traces of milk'

Available at supermarkets and therefore fairy easily obtainable. These are suitable for those that are comfortable with the fact that a minuscule amount of milk may find it's way into the chocolate, during production.

The dark chocolate bunny!

Divine - chocolate manufacturers that pride themselves on their fair trade credentials. They produce some dark chocolate eggs which may be suitable for you.

Green and Black's  Also produce dark chocolate eggs. They pride themselves on producing organic chocolate that also now bears the fair trade logo. Their 'Maya Gold' is Vegan and therefore guaranteed Dairy Free!

Lindt dark chocolate bunnies - spotted in Waitrose only, so far! Watch out, 'cos it looks very similar to the other bunnies. You'll know it's the right one, if you pick up the one with the dark brown ribbon.

Feeling the pinch or feeling creative?

It's not always cheaper to make your own, but in this case, it may pay - as dairy free options are not cheap! If you need any ideas on this score, look out I'll be addressing this one shortly, in the meantime...

Whatever most appeals to you, I hope you can find at least one helpful suggestion here and that you truly do have a most enjoyable and blessed Easter.

Shopping Around... Dairy Free

When we first started shopping dairy free, I must admit I was a bit daunted. I mean, I knew that I was safe with plain meat and fruit and veg but there had to be more to food than that!! Would I have to give up cakes, biscuits and chocolate? It's all very well being born with a milk allergy - you never know what you're missing, but when it is suddenly thrust upon you (and until now you've been able to eat whatever you like) you know exactly what you're missing! 

Fortunately, as I was to discover, there is food that you can still enjoy out there... somewhere, it's just finding it! 



First, know your 'enemy'!

So you've got the list? You know the one that goes like this...


Check labels for: 
milk (including skimmed, semi skimmed, evaporated, condensed, dried, longlife, sterilised)
buttermilk
butter
cheese
quark
cream
yoghurt
fromage frais
casein
caseinates
hydrolysed casein
whey
whey solids
whey syrup sweetener
milk solids
non fat milk solids
lactose*


Yes? Well, now you have it, anyway!

This'll be the list that you'll need to assist you in your shopping! The list looks a bit long long to remember off by heart, but of course most of these do not need to be learned off by heart as they are pretty much common sense. It's the unusual words, that you never realised had anything to do with milk (for me it was 'casein') that really need to be taken in. By the way, watch out for 'lactose free' - this does not mean 'milk free' or 'dairy free'!

Update 2019: You no longer need to carry around this list in the EU, because of statutory requirements that mean that all food products have to clearly denote the presence of the top fourteen allergens (one of which is milk). However, it is still worth knowing your enemy, as other products such as shower gels etc. do not have to declare the presence of the top 14 allergens. I have recently found a really comprehensive list of allergens via a US Allergy Charity which is really comprehensive. Please click here.


Checking the labels

Dairy free shopping means checking the food labels on every food product you purchase (even if you have bought the product before, as recipes and ingredients can change) and being aware of all the ways that milk might be referred to on these labels. It can be a bit of a chore. 

Once upon a time, it was much more difficult to source suitable products, I believe health food stores were pretty much the only option (I shudder to think what people did before these came along). Now the big supermarkets have got in on the act; they've cottoned on to the 'need' or 'market' and made things slightly easier for us - in that they not only stock specific 'Free From' products but helpfully group them together in one section. The big stores also have lists of dairy free products which can be obtained from them, if you ask.

A supermarket Free From aisle

Helpful as this is, the frustrating thing is,that they often major on 'Gluten Free' products some of which (by no means all) are also dairy free, so again you need to check labels. Conversely and confusingly, sometimes products labelled 'Gluten Free' are sometimes also dairy free but do not state it openly. Waitrose gluten free chocolate chip cookies are just one example of this and it's a shame they don't make more of the dairy free labelling, because in my opinion, they're quite scrummy. 


Recently I met a mother whose child, like mine, was dairy free and who expressed her frustration at the restrictions of her child's diet. She just wanted to buy her daughter 'ordinary food'. If you are or have family members who are dairy free, you have probably shared this frustration at some point. The good news is, that there are products out there on the shelves of the supermarkets**. The bad news is that it is a bit like looking for a needle in haystack unless you get some hot tips from someone you know (I can still remember the huge sense of joy I felt, when told by the curate's wife, that Hobnobs were dairy free). 



Use modern technology

The next bit of good news is, that you can get an app for that!! Called 'Food Maestro,' its been made in conjunction with Health Care Professionals, who work with allergies. It doesn't work in all stores yet, but is getting there!


My husband has been my lifeline - he often finds food products, when doing the weekly shop (which, to make life easier, we now do online at Ocado). He originally started doing this to avoid the weekend scrum at the supermarkets and soon discovered he liked the way they laid out their product information. It was through investigating Ocado's website that he discovered my gluten free pasta, which I'm only mentioning here because it is made with chickpeas and is therefore quite handy if you are trying to top up your daily calcium (it's also available from Waitrose, in the fresh pasta section). Of course other stores do similar things with online shopping, you just need to find the one that suits you. 


You can also shop online by using Internet food stores devoted to allergies. I haven't used these personally but have looked at a few and found them quite interesting. They have a wider range than you might find at a supermarket and provide accurate information.  The only thing you might find with these is that delivery charges add to the price of already pricey items - Free From food is already expensive enough as it is! 


You may decide online shopping is not for you and may not have a smartphone on with which to use fancy apps but you can still find product information online, and browse for ideas before you hit the shops. In the past we have used Sainsburys site which seemed to be fairly helpful but I don't generally spend much time browsing for products, unless I'm looking for something specific. Also I get frustrated if I can see something online but not in my local store! 



It's worth shopping around 

Someone made me laugh the other week by pointing out that my husband*** works for one major supermarket, but that we shop elsewhere - at Ocado and Waitrose. This is not entirely true - living in an area where I have quite good access to a number of different supermarkets, I hop around the different shops according to where I happen to be that day or according to which Free From products I want, as the supermarkets all vary slightly in what they have to offer. Prices can vary too, as I found out last week, when I visited the Co-op and found that my favourite brand of Free From bread and my Free From Jaffa cakes are currently cheaper at the Co-op than at either Sainsburys or Tescos! 


I also still pop in to independent health food shops from time to time. They might be a bit pricier than the supermarkets but they quite often have products that you can't find elsewhere (except maybe the allergy food shops online). Where else can you find a dairy substitute made from pea protein? And they tend to offer their customer a bit more of a personal touch than supermarkets too. Who else might offer to order in something that they don't have in stock, but will offer to order it anyway, because they can get hold of it and they know you want it - like those Free From ice cream cones I wanted, last summer? Yes! These days you can get dairy free ice cream! Mmm! Sounds like a cue for another blog!




*Watch out for 'lactose free' on labels - this does not necessarily mean 'dairy free'!

**The bad news is that if you are really sensitive to milk, a lot of these products may not be suitable for you. Even if they do not contain milk in the ingredients, they may still contain 'traces of milk'. This is because they have other products made on the same production line that are made with dairy - in which case they cannot guarantee 100% that a tiny amount of dairy might not enter the one you're after. 


NB Something else to look out for - if something is suitable for Vegans then it may also be dairy free. Although some products that say they are Vegan still say 'may contain milk'. The only way to be sure is to (yep, you've got it) check the label carefully everytime.

*** The Hub no longer works for any supermarket - just in case you're wondering!