My usual excitement at the new issue of Gluten-Free Heaven magazine coming out has been slightly dampened. Actually, that's a heck of an understatement. The new state we're living in feels like something out of a work of fiction and that's why I'm urging you to buy Gluten-Free Heaven magazine more than ever.
Firstly, if we really are going to be stuck at home for an indefinite amount of time, it's important to have things to interest us that don't just involve technology. Don't get me wrong, I am hugely grateful we have the internet, television, WhatsApp and so forth, but total reliance can be unhealthy, especially if it stops working and you wonder how on earth you'll exist.
One thing I've always loved about magazines is the escapism. For a couple of hours it's just me and a glossy mag. What started out as More! obsession in the 90s quickly progressed to Minx, Cleo (when I lived in Oz), Shape and Cosmopolitan. But it took a while for a coeliac-friendly magazine to emerge, and that's where Gluten-Free Heaven comes in.
There is always an abundance of recipes, focusing not only on what's in season but also what's appropriate for the month. The new issue has a good section on pastry-making (the bane of many a coeliac baker's life), an 'oh so rich' chocolate cake and a rather interesting carrot roulade.
And, of course, there's always an article from me. This time round I'm focusing on the gluten-free fairytale and how everything is not quite what it seems, which is interesting when you consider how the world has changed in the last few weeks.
Sadly, there are some things in the magazine that are no longer happening. You probably know by now that the FreeFrom Food Festival in Oxford has been postponed (note: not cancelled, which is a relief) and there won't be a travel piece next month. But overall, there's a lot to be getting on with, not least some onion and egg tartlets on page 48.
If you'd like to subscribe to Gluten-Free Heaven magazine to avoid having to go to the shops, click here for details.