It’s snowing in Manchester! I’m not sure why my foot prints look like a big duck has been in my backyard lol
I’ve been warming my self up in the evening with a ‘Special Coffee’ comprising of coffee, hazelnut milk and spiced rum. My faves are Tesco’s Spiced Gold, Sailor Jerry’s and Dead Mans Fingers.
Bones is chuffed with his early Xmas present of Dead Man’s Fingers spiced rum. He says it’s very apt.
This post is basically a little pat on the back to myself and a lesson in believing in my ABILITIES, rather than focusing on my disabilities.
1) I always wanted a laptop with skateboard/band/creepy cute stickers on.
Being Dyspraxic (so having little spacial-awareness and very sporadic coordination) I always assumed I’d arse it up. That really wasn’t an option as my MacBook was a very generous present from the person I loved so I didn’t want it to look shite.
Considering this project has evolved over eight years, I think I’ve done an amazing job and it looks cool, rather crowded or having random gaps etc.
2) I’ve also created and managed a successful green/alternative lifestyle blog for this amount of time too. I’ve stopped doing reviews of gifted items and attending press events due to my health probs BUT it still gets a lot of views, likes and some comments, meaning I’m still coming up with engaging content. I’m also writing in my own unique (slightly bonkers) voice, which I think has helped the longevity of this blog too.
I never would I have thought that I’d be able to keep ANYTHINg going for that long, and of any consistent quality, because of ADHD and Dyspraxia (not even counting the chronic fatigue from having Dyspraxia and Hypermobilty Syndrome) and yet, I have.
Yay me! 💃🏽
Just shows you that giving things a go might actually work out, and if not, well at least you know now, rather than always wondering.
As you probably know I ‘don’t do cooking’ because Im too neurodiverse to function…in the kitchen for very long. So every ingredient here is incredibly simple to ‘cook’ and combine to make something tasty.
Everything here is dairy and gluten free apart from Amy’s Kitchen Rice Mac and Cheese which has dairy.
Dirty Nachos
Manosmasa Tortillas or any wholegrain Nachos
Vivera Greek Style Kebab strips
Tesco Smashed Avocado
Mexicana Jalepeno Cheese or a cheddar substitute
Pret Spicy Tomato Sauce or Salsa
Pad Thai Style Noodles
Rice Noodles
Kikkoman Tamari (gf soy sauce)
Sesame Oil
Salted Roasted Peanuts (not shown) to be crushed up on top
Sririacha Sauce (not shown)
Mixed Frozen Veg
Fresh Spring Onion (not shown)
Wicked Kitchen Garlic & Herb Nooch (nutritional yeast) just a sprinkle
Stacked Burger
Genius Bread/Buns/Muffins
This Bacon
Vivera Greek Kebab Strips
Vegan Cheese of your choice
Smashed Avocado
Pret Spicy Tomato Sauce
Satay Sauce Noodles
Rice Noodles
Mixed Frozen Veg
Tamari Sauce (gf soy sauce)
Meridian Peanut Butter
Sririacha Sauce
Amy’s Kitchen Rice Mac n’ Cheese Ready Meal
I’ve bought great gluten free pasta but I find making dairy-free cheese sauce (that I actually like) so faffy! I’m going to try using vegan cream cheese or vegan mayo instead with rice milk and nutrional yeast. Wish me luck!
I hope you’ve found this basic list of ingredients for takeaway favourites helpful. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know.
Even if you have a vegetarian, gluten-free and/or dairy-free diet (mine is for ethical and food intolerance reasons), there are still so many things you can eat! So I thought I’d share my tiny fridge and stupidly large cupboard with you.
Top (left to right) Nairn’s Whole Grain (gf) Crackers, Momasa Lemon and Peppercorn tortilla chips, Biona Fruit Bears, Kind Dark Choc, Nuts & Sea Salt, Pulsin Brownie Peanut & Choc Chip.
Middle Asda Sesame Oil, Felippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Wicked Kitchen Garlic and Herb Nooch (nutritional yeast which gives things a cheesy taste like mild Parmesan), Nice and Easy Cheese Flavour Sauce Mix, Amy’s Kitchen Tomato Soup, Amy’s Kitchen Lentil Soup, Amoy Rice Noodles.
Bottom Kikkoman Gluten Free Soy Sauce, Le Conserve Detla Nonna Green (vegan) Pesto, Nice and Easy Chickpea and Vegetable Curry, Garlic cloves (I prefer garlic purée in a tube lol), Tilda Microwave Mushroom Rice, Morrison’s Hot Paprika, Ground Black Pepper.
Middle shelf Olives, bananas (no idea ?!), more beer, guacamole, humus, halloumi (the blokes), Vivera kebab strips.
Bottom shelf Always some kind of energy drink, cranberry and apple sauce, jars of antipasti, spring onions, bell (sweet) pepper.
In the door Fresh orange and mango juice, eye gel (so cooling!), Mayo, sriracha, chilli oil.
Nearly every item here was bought from either Asda, Morrison’s or Tesco but the dairy free guacamole was from Ocado (as I don’t have the time and energy to make it myself).
I hope this post helps to make any transitions in your diet and/or lifestyle a little easier!
I’m so glad I’ve come across Ask Italian, a nationwide restaurant chain that has wonderful vegetarian options, a gluten-free pizza and pasta menu, plus a vegan menu.
This is their Non-Gluten Verdure pizza, with mushroom, red pepper, black olives, artichoke, mozzarella and basil (£9.95) You can add any extra topping and a spicy tomato dip to your order for around a quid each.
This has to be the best gluten-free base that I’ve ever tasted. It’s thin, floppy but still slightly crispy, like a traditional Italian base. It doesn’t have that thick, flowery texture that gf takeaway bases have.
I ordered takeaway from Palestinian restaurant Baity in Didsbury, Manchester. As soon as the weather gets this hot, this kind food of food is all I ever fancy.
I ordered…
Bata Hara (like tater tots),
Falafel
Halloumi (solid cheese) fries
Humus
Baclava (light pastry, layered with nuts and syrup).
Some of the portions were small for the price.
The humus was a tad lacking so I added more olive oil, smoked paprika and a tiny bit of garlic salt.
The sauce accompanying the falafel was heavenly!
I added salt to the halloumi fries, which were surprisingly bland!?
I’m not used to having sauce, instead of seasoning on Bata Hara. Delicious but makes them soggy, rather than crispy. Hmm, undecided…
The Baklava was desperately in need of more syrup.
Simple food, which would be fine, if the price reflected the small (takeaway) portion size. 💸
This is the gluten free double BBQ burger (with ‘cheese’ and ‘bacon’ from Wholesome Junkies. It’s got me thinking that burger buns should be replaced with a huge amount of crunchy (massively loaded) fries as standard!
The portion is so generous, this has been my tea and now my dinner. 😛😋
It’s Disability Pride Month Which, I have to admit, I’ve only just discovered! I’m not ‘proud’ to be disabled but I’m certainly not ashamed or awkward about it either. I am proud of how I’ve learned to deal with being Dyspraxic and and having Hypermobilty Syndrome over the past 40 years (with an astounding amount of ignorance and attitudes bordering on ableism from Dr’s).
Here is the awesome super lightweight, fold-up chair (even the back folds down) which I bought for car travel. It’s sparkly electric blue ✨💙✨
To be independent I need to be given an electric wheelchair. Because of my disabilities I have muscle weakness and chronic fatigue, so the GP gave me a self propelled chair which I’m unable to use BECAUSE OF MY DISABILITIES. How’s that for sick irony? Apparently this is ‘a very common mistake if it’s a GP who’s made the referral’ the man told me as he was delivering it and taking it away again.
I’m having another phone consultation with a GP on Tuesday and (after arranging this myself) I’m being properly assessed by a Physio from Social Services Neuro Team soon. I must mention that Manchester and Thameside Social Services have been more understanding, knowledgable, kind and professional over my disabilities in just four months, than most Dr’s have been in four decades!
Treated myself to the Tofish from JJ’s Vish and Chips. After I added salt and a little vinegar the texture and taste was uncanny! The Fricken Nuggets where awesome too! I wasn’t that impressed with the tarter sauce as I thought it was a little bland but still nice.
They have an extensive chippy menu which I’m working my through. I loved the giant smokey Sossage which I happily drowned in ketchup and mustard.
Instagram @jjsvishandchipsmanchester
Available to order on Uber Eats. Manchester and Leeds based.