| Ok. I never thought that the day would come | | | | flakes |
| when I would sing the praises of a rice noodle. Let | | | | 6 anchovy fillets in olive oil (drained and finely |
| alone consider it a valid, gluten-free alternative to | | | | chopped) |
| pasta. But I've come to understand and love the | | | | 4 tbs tomato paste/puree |
| little blighters.In olden times (that is until about 4 | | | | 125ml/ 4 fl oz/ 1/2 cup dry white wine (good |
| months ago) I thought I couldn't live without | | | | enough to drink) |
| pasta; then I tried - and discovered how much | | | | 250g/ 8 oz cherry, or mini plum tomatoes cut |
| better I felt. My body certainly is a happier | | | | into quarters |
| creature on rice noodles.But pasta is a fantastic | | | | salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste |
| vehicle for carrying flavours, and rice noodles, | | | | 200g/ 7 oz can tuna in olive oil (drained) |
| truth to tell, are not. Still rice noodles have the | | | | 3-4 tbs diced black olives (stones removed) |
| edge in that you can get them from packet to | | | | Method Place the rice noodles in a bowl and, as |
| table, sauced, within about 15 minutes flat.There's | | | | directed above, pour approximately 2 litres of |
| no need to bring huge vats of water to the boil, | | | | boiling water over. (If it's slightly less or slightly |
| salt humungously and then drain off a veritable | | | | more, it really doesn't matter, provided the |
| sea of potentially lethal, scalding water. (Never a | | | | noodles are fully covered. Give them a quick stir |
| good idea with small children and furry companions | | | | around with a wooden spoon, so you don't get |
| in the kitchen.) All you have to do is boil a kettle | | | | the odd gummy clump that has not absorbed the |
| full of water, throw the noodles into a bowl, pour | | | | water evenly.)Now ignore the noodles for a few |
| the contents of the kettle over and leave to sit | | | | minutes while you deal with the other ingredients. |
| for a few minutes while you prepare the | | | | Place the garlic and chilli flakes with the olive oil in |
| sauce.(Oops! That's my English heritage revealed. | | | | a medium-large frying pan over medium-high heat. |
| If you live without the joy of a kettle for boiling | | | | ( Adjust the heat, as necessary, to prevent |
| the water for your daily 'fix' of tea, then you'll | | | | burning.)As soon as the mixture becomes fragrant |
| have to bring a couple of litres of water to the | | | | and the garlic starts to turn golden, add the |
| boil as you normally do and then proceed as | | | | anchovies and stir well.Now add the tomato paste |
| above.)Now the sauce is, of course, the | | | | puree and stir furiously, to dissolve it.Add the wine |
| interesting part. The trick is to build up layers of | | | | and leave to bubble away for a couple of minutes |
| flavour and then cook the noodles in the sauce | | | | while you drain the noodles and hack them into |
| for a couple of minutes, so that the noodles really | | | | smaller lengths with a pair of kitchen scissors. |
| absorb the sauce. But this takes chutzpah (aka | | | | (Sure, you're not meant to do this for Oriental |
| barefaced cheek) and flies in the face of received | | | | dishes; it's meant to bring bad luck, but it makes |
| wisdom about what you do, when and how.So be | | | | eating them easier, andit will protect your shirt.) |
| it, I say. The end result is delicious. It's filling, but | | | | Add the sliced tomatoes, turn the heat up to |
| light enough on the digestion for a picky maiden | | | | high and give them a minute to soften. Season |
| aunt.Leftovers, if you have any, are great at | | | | well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. |
| room temperature. And it showcases lots of | | | | Bearing in mind that rice noodles are naturally |
| great Italian flavours in a slightly unconventional | | | | flavour vampires, this is no time to go light on the |
| way.Oh, and if you ever need to, you could | | | | salt.Break the tuna into flakes as you add it to |
| probably keep a self-respecting vampire away | | | | the pan and stir. Quickly add the noodles and toss |
| with this one. But, hey, everyone's got to live and | | | | for a minute or two until all the noodles are well |
| garlic's health giving properties are not to be | | | | coated.Finally add the chopped olives, stir again, |
| sneered at.("Gloriously Gluten Free", the cookbook, | | | | transfer to a serving dish and serve hot, warm or |
| boasts a number of more conventional | | | | at room temperature.Buon appetito.(C) 2005 |
| conventional recipes for corn pasta and polenta.) | | | | Annie KaszinaAnnie Kaszina, Coach, writer and |
| Rice noodles with tomatoes and tuna Makes 6 | | | | 'foodie'is not a Celiac, but has foresworn wheat in |
| appetizer portions, 3-4 main course servings1 x | | | | the interest of 'caring for a delicate digestion'. She |
| 250 g/ 8 oz packet medium rice noodles | | | | works with Celiac Gina Gardiner to provide great |
| 4 tbs extra virgin olive oil | | | | information and recipes to restore the confidence |
| 3 or 4 plump garlic cloves (crushed, peeled, green | | | | and zest for eating of Celiacs who have had their |
| germ removed and | | | | easy enjoyment of food taken away from them |
| minced ) | | | | by their disease. |
| 1 good pinch, or as much as 1/4 tsp, dried chilli | | | | |