Cakes

[linny]

I've tried the M&S Apple Fruit Loaf today and it's delicious. I'm not keen on normal fruit loaves but liked this one. It's quite expensive about £1.20 but a nice treat. Their Angel Cake is dairy free too.

[matt]

i seem to remember tesco value madeira cake is dairy free. not much on it's own but you can use it as a base to make a pudding with, warm it up and add swedish glace if nothing else.

it's worth looking at the value ranges as that's where you'll get the dairyfree ones......you just have to be ok to eat hydrogenated fats. i couldn't care less aboutthem. if you avoided everything they say you'd not eat anything or drink anything.

[Copper]

Oh yes I like Tesco striped packets - usually dairy free. I am eating their digestive biscuits mmmm. After reading many a label it seems to me that if something is dairy free it has a lot of "chemicals" in it. I am beginning to think that if something has a long list of "chemicals" then it is good - mad isn't it! :unsure:

[matt]

you're being brainwashed! from inside. i'm sure there's a good reason for them needing loads of extra chemicals and additives, no idea what it might be though.

my favourite at the moment is tesco or asda value tortilla chips something like 26p for a large packet, only lightly salted. great alternative to crisps. being the value ones without any extra spices etc all they contain is corn salt and oil. no dairy no wheat. no additives etc.:drool:

[linny]

My daughter spotted some dairy free (and I think gluten free) muffins in Boots. They were individual ones so handy for a snack when you're out. They also have some of the free from packets of biscuits and slices of bread. Our Boots is a large store though, so I don't know if all the branches will have them.

[linny]

After enjoying the Village Bakery fruit cake slices at Christmas, my husband insisted he wanted to buy me the large fruitcake they make (about £5.00!). I am really disappointed with it as it falls to pieces as you try to cut it and it is SO dry it is nearly inedible. :yucky: I have emailed them but am awating a reply. Has anyone else tried this cake?

[Steve]

Have you tried making a fruit cake yourself. It should be easy enough to make one dairy free.

[linny]

I really should try, I make a dairy free chocolate cake as everyone here eats that, but as I'm the only one who eats the fruit cake I haven't bothered, YET!:naughty:

[Steve]

I like fruitcakes but Lan doesn't so i don't eat them often. Then again as i don't have a problem with dairy i'm lucky enough to be able to buy them when i do want them.

[matt]

git :bleh: :bleh: :bleh: :bleh: :bleh: :bleh:

[linny]

I finally had a reply to my email to Village Bakery and they say that the cake texture is supposed to be different to that of their fruit cake slices, but they will investigate and send me a refund.:)

[Copper]

That is very nice of them - gold star I think.

[zoefruitcake]

was slightly worried when first reading through this that I was being referred to (am I dry and inedible?!) :bleh:

I wonder why Village Bakery need to state that it is supposed to be different from the slices? If they wanted it to be different why didn't they give it another name? For example even calling it something like "fruit loaf" would make you expect something different to "rich fruitcake" :unsure:

[matt]

was slightly worried when first reading through this that I was being referred to (am I dry and inedible?!) :bleh:

:unsure:

no neither just a little nutty!!!!

pot calling the kettle black:lol2:

[zoefruitcake]

I'm choosing to take that as a compliment ;)

[linny]

It doesn't even resemble a fruit loaf! It's just very dry, extremely chewy dried fruit in a pile of crumbs!! £5.50 too!

[linny]

I stumbled across some bargain cakes in Boots today. They are their free from chocolate chip cakes. They were reduced to 28p from 58p as a 'short date' - 4 June! I decided to get 3 and I'm glad I did as when I paid for them they were also on 3 for 2 - I like a bargain!:)

[cnc]

Their chocolate cake bars are really nice!!I'm quite jealous, but then again I bought the 4 pack the other day when they were on 3 for 2, think I've still got 1 left :drool: but that's only because I'd got something similar from elsewhere that needed to be eaten first!
Think it must be nearly time for a trip back to there- got to buy these things when they're on special offer!!

[matt]

better to be nuts than dry and inedible!!

since when did i ever deliberately insult someone:lol2: accidentally and without thought possibly but not deliberately:)

[linny]

I had another email from Village Bakery. They have looked into the complaint about the fruit cake and reckon the only thing that they've changed is the baking time. They are going to send me a box of their other products for compensation! Yum yum I can't wait! :) Still no reply from Asda.:rant:

[cnc]

Well done regarding the Village Bakery- free food is good compensation (feel free to send some this way, if you can't eat it all :D)
Asda used to be quite good at replying to complaints, try going into the store, or failing that send another email telling them you're going to visit trading standards, if they care at all, that might make them do something :S

[Pam]

I hope it is a large box to keep you going for a few weeks. I think people should complain rather than keeping quiet - if the manufacturers don't get told what we don't like they don't need to improve it.

I think we ought to offer our services as taste testers for free samples.

[pop_pixie]

I have a feeling Mr Kipling's lemon cakes are dairy free and extremely yummy

[matt]

good idea about tasters. never just sit back and moan. if something's wrong complain. but do it constructively and positively not just a rant. they'll react better and will offer better compensation then. especially if it'll keep you as a customer. if you rant and "i'll never shop here again etc" where's the incentive to give you freebies?

so when should we all come round to try the village bakery stuff?:lol2:

[linny]

Well, I've looked at the their products on their website and some things are gluten and wheat free but not dairy free. Oh well looks like hubby may have a gluten and wheat free week! They've promised some of their fruit cake slices that are delicious, I had some at Christmas but Waitrose haven't got them now.

[linny]

:) Well, I received my promised parcel of cakes yesterday from Village Bakery.:D :drool: I got a box of rich fruit cake slices - they are delicious. I also got a ginger cake and some chocolate brownies. They are all dairy, gluten and wheat free. The ginger cake is nice it actually has bits of ginger in it. The brownies are also nice but I find them a bit sickly as I did with usual chocolate brownies in my dairy eating days!

I am extremely impressed with their customer care dept. and would definately buy their cakes again.

Asda are another matter, I resent the email as requested but still have no reply re the bath buns.:rant:

[cnc]

I like chocolate brownies!!!If you can't eat them I'll have no problem consuming them (but then students will generally eat whatevers avaliable!!).
Good service is always nice, must look out for their brand in future, where can I get their stuff from??

[linny]

Hi, I've only ever been able to get them in Waitrose.

[cnc]

I'm not sure where Waitrose is in either of the cities!Time for a bit of internet searching I think.

[matt]

i've def seen them in waitrose but also in health food shop, i'd bet they'd happily order some in.

[cnc]

Waitrose is 2 miles or 11 miles away, could feasibly cycle to the one here, but it might have to be a trip I make post exams. I've not found a health food shop in the town yet, that seem to be very helpful, the main one looked like it was being refurbished, so was a bit hectic!

[linny]

I think Village Bakery do a mail order service (on the web) but I don't know how much the postage charge would be.

[paranoidangel]

We have a Waitrose in town, I will definitely have to have a look in there tomorrow (I was really wanting a chocolate brownie this lunchtime as I sat and watched someone else eat one)

[cnc]

I think the postage was about £5.95, I did look earlier but then I forgot! Waitrose also do online ordering, I think the nearest store to me at home does, so I may be cheaper trying the stuff that way if they've got anything I want.
Just discovered that there is in fact a wholefoods shop in the city centre that stocks their produce so I'll have a look when I get home.
There is also one near here, but that might have to wait until next year when I'm living closer to there!!

[paranoidangel]

I've just discovered that the new bigger Waitrose in town isn't as crap as I thought it was (they've managed to be bigger without stocking any more food). But it turns out they have a free from section! The Village Bakery chocolate brownies are in there, and they're very nice. I was very good and restrained myself in that section. Although as people at work have pointed out, being lactose intolerant is no excuse to eat chocolate - I didn't used to eat much but now when I see something I can eat I tend to buy it :)

[linny]

I found some dairy free cakes today - sorry but they're from Sainsburys! :mellow: They're Sainsburys Basics 6 Fruit Slices. The description says 'with a sprinkling of sultanas and raisins'. Okay they were only 69p but I would advise fruit cake lovers to avoid them as a 'sprinkling' was an exageration.:( I suppose they'd be ok with custard.

[Copper]

I just can't bring myself to go into that store. I can't help feeling that if I got a grip I could find time to make my own cakes. I have managed to make my own bread for about three weeks. Himself eats shop bought but says he might try mine now that he is on holiday :) I can see the breadmaker will be on most days soon.

[paranoidangel]

Yay :) The chocolate bread tastes a lot like cake.

[cnc]

The chocolate bread tastes a lot like cake.

Have I missed something here? What chocolate bread??

[Copper]

Bearing in mind that PA is my eldest daughter, I have been known to make chocolate bread in the breadmaker - only PA eats it :)

[cnc]

Ah it makes more sense now!! Sorry I'm a bit slow at the moment. I thought it was some random product that had been tried and was confused :mellow:

[Copper]

You need more sleep Claire :D I told you that you would feel better after a sleep. It will give your body a chance to fight off your chest infection.

[paranoidangel]

Bearing in mind that PA is my eldest daughter, I have been known to make chocolate bread in the breadmaker - only PA eats it :)
And it's very nice, especially with chocolate spread :)

[matt]

with a side order of chocolate or is that going too far?:lol2:

[paranoidangel]

Of course not, you can never have too much chocolate :)

[matt]

and lets not forget the chocolate soya shake on the side!!:lol2: