How to Create a Gluten and Wheat Free Valentine Tea

Being wheat and gluten free does not mean never having any baked goods. In fact most of my favourite recipes work very well if I replace flour with brown or white rice flour and tapioca starch. For exampIe 1 cup of flour = 1/2 cup brown rice flour and 1/2 cup tapioca starch.

My menu for a spectacular tea that everyone will enjoy is:

• Chocolate dipped strawberries
• English Tea Scones with jam and clotted cream
• Almond bread with smoked salmon, cream cheese and cucumber
• Corn chips and salsa
• Red velvet cup cakes.

The tea can be whipped up in a snap if you pre-make the cup cakes and store them in an airtight container overnight or in the freezer for longer.

I serve a choice of Orange Pekoe, Lady Grey, Green and Chai Teas and pink lemonade

The English scone recipe I use is very simple - my mum gave it to me and I think her mum used it too.

8oz flour (use half and half rice flour and tapioca starch)

2oz sugar

4oz butter

2 eggs beaten

By hand crumble flours and butter mixture and add sugar. Make a well and add eggs. Bind mixture together, roll and cut into rounds or create round patti's by hand. Lightly brush the tops with milk. Place on greased baking sheet and bake 10-12 mins on 350 or until done. Scones will be light golden. Serve with jam, butter and whipped or clotted cream.

Almond Bread - this recipe is not mine. I have added a little more salt than stated and changed the peanut butter to almond. It's simple to bake and works brilliantly. Go to http://www.food.com/recipe/low-carb-mr-peanut-bread-453651

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries. I like to leave on the green tops and select bigger strawberries for dipping. Melt 1 1/2 cups good quality dark chocolate chips or cut up pieces in the microwave. To melt the chocolate successfully heat for 30 seconds at a time. Melt about half the chocolate and then stir in the remainder allowing the already melted chocolate to absorb the non melted chocolate. Make sure you do not get water anywhere near the chocolate or it will harden and spoil. Dip the strawberries in the chocolate and place on parchment paper on a baking sheet. Place dipped strawberries to harden in fridge.

Red Velvet Cupcakes. These are very popular in our house and we make them for birthday parties too. The recipe is from http://www.thebakingbeauties.com/?s=red+velvet+cupcakes

Happy Valentine Day♥