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Vicki Montague Interview (the Free From Fairy): Wholesome Gluten-Free Living

April 9, 2022 by CKE Edit@rs Leave a Comment


Vicki Montague is a force to be reckoned with and an inspiration to us. This scientist and freelance recipe developer became a food blogger as well to help and inspire people to live a "positive, wholesome life" based on her own experiences. 

She also created the first wholegrain gluten-free flour blend, free of rice too, in the world, and you can read about this and many more below!
pieces of gluten-free biscotti stacked on top of another on plate
Source: the Free From Fairy

1. What got you into Cooking?

My mum and granny. I loved cooking as a child and was often found in the kitchen helping my mum and granny. I especially loved to cook puddings (and eat them!).

2. What determined you to start Free From Fairy?

I started the Free From Fairy in 2012 as a way of sharing recipes with friends and family.

In 2008 my daughter was diagnosed with egg and milk protein allergies and then in 2010, she was diagnosed with coeliac disease.

Often, people didn’t know what to cook for her, so I set up the blog to direct people to. Since then, millions of people have been helped by it and I’ve gone on to develop and bring to market my own wholegrain gluten free flour blend, cookery classes, and an online programme.

I also create recipes and do cooking demonstrations for brands wishing to showcase their ingredients in innovative ways.

closeup on gluten-free bread loaf and slice on cutting board
Source: the Free From Fairy

3. What inspires you to keep going, even when the Food’s not Done, the kitchen’s on Fire (Oh god, no!)?

My daughter inspires me to keep going. Sometimes it can be challenging to create gluten-free recipes but I keep going because I don’t want her to miss out on anything.

4. What’s your Favourite Recipe?

I have so many! But one of my favourites would have to be this recipe for naan bread. It is such a versatile recipe that can be used as a naan, or as a pizza base or a quick bread to fill at lunchtime.

gluten-free naan bread on a plate
Source: the Free From Fairy

5. Want to share your Comfort Food or Guilty Pleasure too?

It has to be chocolate! I’m a self confessed addict!

6. Your biggest Culinary Pride: what dish are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my bread recipes. It can be tricky to make gluten-free bread and I have so many great comments about them. 

7. Do you have a Favourite Ingredient?

Chocolate!!!

slice of gluten-free tiffin on a plate
Source: the Free From Fairy

8. A kitchen Tool that you couldn’t do without?

My knives. I don’t think it’s necessary to have too many gadgets in the kitchen.

I try to keep my recipes as simple as possible to not overwhelm people. The object of what I do is to inspire people to think that making their own food is possible for everyone.

I don’t want to create recipes that use lots of ingredients or gadgets because that puts people off.

9. Beware! Sharp Objects Ahead: do you Use and Have a Favourite Knife or just any will do?

Yes! I have a set of incredible sharp knives that my dad bought for me.

10. What’s the Best Cooking Tip you ever got?

Read the recipe through at least once before starting anything. Then when you’re cooking, check through the ingredients again to check you’ve added everything.

closeup on gluten-free stollen chunk and slice
Source: the Free From Fairy

11. Chef Admiration: who Inspires you the most?

Jamie Oliver. Although a lot of his recipes can be complicated and use lots of ingredients, I am incredibly inspired by him and all he does to try to get people eating healthily.

12. The Fun Part: what’s the Strangest Thing you’ve eaten?

Probably crickets. 

13. One Last Question: what would you advise someone that is just now Learning how to Cook?

Try, fail, try again, fail better. Never give up!

Cooking can take practice, like anything, but the health benefits of cooking your own food are worth it.

Also, enlist some help. I run 1:1 cookery classes via video link from your kitchen to mine so that I can help you create the dishes you most want to learn how to make.

vicky montague headshot
You can find out more about Vicki and her mission by watching the Free From Fairy trailer bellow. 

To keep up-to-date with her recipes, be sure to follow her on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Bloglovin’.

Vicki also told us about her wintertime holiday favorites, and especially about the recipes she likes making for Christmas day. All are, of course, gluten-free and you can read more about them in the article!



 
      

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Marie
Marie Rayner is a Canadian, who moved over to the UK and began a new life in the year 2000. At the age of 45 she decided she needed a career change and went back to College to take a Chef's course, after which she worked as a Personel Chef for a number of years.

Anita
Anita Parris Soule is a Virginia native with a passion for delicious food and beautiful words. She is a blogger, food photographer, and recipe developer, who loves cooking and baking too!

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