Wednesday 26 March 2014

Crate of Nothing

It's been an exciting couple of months in the Gluten and Dairy Free food world.

 

Well, exciting in that there have been quite a few new products launched by companies like Genius Gluten Free and Dietary Specials to help those on special diets have things to eat that are a bit more 'normal'.

 

A couple of months ago I received an email from a new company called 'Crate of Nothing' asking if we would be interested in trying out one of their crates. I thought it sounded like such a great idea that I immediately agreed.

 

Once a month they send out their little boxes of goodies. You can choose either gluten free or gluten and dairy free. We obviously chose the second option and waited until the beginning of the month, which is when they post out the boxes.

 

Calum (11) was rather chuffed when he came home from school one day to find this box waiting for him, with everything inside it safe for him and Alasdair (4) to eat. David (8), who can, and will, eat anything had his eye on a few things too but I told him that there were enough treats he can eat. These were all for Calum & Alasdair, who so often have to forego treats.

 

 

The box contained gluten and dairy free foods that you would be less likely to find in the supermarkets, with the aim of helping out these smaller producers, as well as helping to introduce you to foods you would otherwise not have heard of. It also contained the non perishable measured out ingredients to make some free from Chocolate Brownies, along with the recipe for them.


Of course my little baker Calum had to try these out, and they were the finest Chocoate Brownies I have ever tasted - free from or allergy filled! You can find the recipe for them here. We did make one little change to them and didn't make the chocolate icing to go on top. I thought this might be too chocolatey, even for me, especially as we were using dark chocolate. Instead we finished them off with a dusting of icing sugar


 

They were still slightly warm when we had them for pudding one night and I may, or may not, have eaten more than two slices in one sitting.

 

The boxes cost £22.50 for a one off purchase of a box, or £20 if you set up a monthly subscription. Postage is included in the cost. If you think this is a little pricey for a smallish box of food, then you can't be a regular shopper for free from foods. The free from flour I buy costs nearly three times what the ordinary flour I buy costs!

 

I think the boxes are a great way to widen the food horizons of those on restricted diets.

 

Or perhaps you yourself might not be on a free from diet but you know of someone who is. If so, then I think a one off box would make a great present for them, either for a birthday or for a 'just because' present. Something a little bit different, and foodie treats are so tricky to buy for free from diets.

 

There are only a limited number of boxes available each month, and orders are closed now for the boxes being sent out at the beginning of April, but I do recommend having a wee look once ordering is opened up again for the May boxes.

 

 

 

3 comments:

  1. Oh, what fun for the boys!! So glad they can have their own special treats to look forward to. :)

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  2. These look wonderful. I can see what fun it would be for the boys to have something special. What a great way of pulling together a variety of treats from various places, and marketing them so that people with allergies and gluten problems can get their hands on them. Would love to try out those brownies. It doesn't hurt any of us to take a break from wheat. I love to try different things, even if I don't have to.
    Blessings to all,
    Pam

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  3. Wow, those look pretty yummy! I've been wanting to try gluten free food for health reasons. Looks like the boys enjoyed it. Good to see you again Kirsteen.

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