Congratulations to all our winners of the Kool Kai Challenge including Neena George who won the most 'creative award' for her GF Weetbix Slice and cupcakes

The Weet-Bix slice came about because she LOOOOVED Weet-Bix before being diagnosed, but the gluten-free stuff tasted disgusting.  She didn't want to waste it so she thought it might be ok if she disguised it in a slice.  And what do you know, it tastes even better than the normal one.

Here is her recipe:

Ingredients:

• 5x GF Weet-Bix
• 1 1/2 cups GF white flour
• 2 teaspoons GF baking powder
• 2 tablespoons cocoa
• 3/4 cup coconut
• 2/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon golden syrup
• 150g butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
2. Mix Weet-Bix, flour, baking powder, cocoa and coconut in a large bowl.
3. Put sugar, golden syrup and butter into a pot and heat on low until the sugar is dissolved.
4. Add vanilla essence and mix well.
5. Pour the liquid blend over the dry ingredients and mix together.
6. Press into a 20cm x 30cm lined baking dish.
7. Bake for 150 minutes or until firm
8. Ice with chocolate icing while it is still warm.
9. Eat and enjoy

Neena is 11 and loves dancing, netball, and baking.  Having coeliac disease means limited access to baked treats in the out and about the world.  Sure, there are loads of gluten-free options around, but when you ask "are they suitable for Coeliacs", you usually get a sad face and a "no sorry".  So Neena prefers to make her own sweet treats.  Weet-Bix slice, brownies, cookies, bliss balls, cupcakes, cakes, pancakes; you name it, Neena bakes it.  Much to the joy of her younger brother Marcus who has just turned 3.  He only knows Neena's baking as he was diagnosed when he was barely 2.  Neena wants to open a 100% Coeliac-friendly cafe when she grows up and make delicious and nutritious (and sometimes naughty) food that people with coeliac disease can sit down and know that everything on the menu and in the display cabinet, is 100% safe for them.  Oh, and amazing coffee too.

As she has gotten older she has become a master of labels and a master in the kitchen.  Neena is comfortable asking if she can check a label at other people's houses and is quick to point out (politely) if someone is about to cross-contaminate food.  She is very protective of Marcus's diet so no gluten gets through if Neena is around.

Living with coeliac disease is hard and often Neena feels it most when she is out.  But she leaves the house with yummy gluten free treats in her bag so that when her friends buy their food she can whip out something nice and doesn't feel left out.  Her friends are all wonderful about it and often bring gluten-free treats to school for her.  They also cater for her dietary requirements when she goes over to stay which I think is awesome.

This year Neena had to write and present a speech at school.  Her first time doing speeches and she wasn't looking forward to it.  She decided to make Coeliac Disease her topic and she nailed it.  Her classmates were all really surprised about her story of diagnosis and what she has to do to stay healthy.

So, an advocate in the making!

Article provided by  Karina George (Mother)

Photo of cupcakes using Bakels Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix.