100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes
By Carol Fenster
(Wiley, $16.95)
If there’s anything this cookbook reinforces it’s that living a gluten-free life does not equal food deprivation. Colorful photographs illustrate delicious concoctions of everything from comfort food to international cuisine, and handy icons dictate which recipes are vegetarian, quick prep, or kid-friendly. Additional handy resources within the book include how to stock the gluten-free pantry, safety in the gluten-free kitchen, and basic gluten education information. Fenster is billed as an expert on the topic of gluten-free cooking, and if her latest release is any indication, her reputation is most definitely substantiated.
Babycakes
By Erin McKenna
(Potter; $24)
Carb cravers in pursuit of a gluten-free life, this is most definitely possible. Babycakes NYC founder Erin McKenna shares her recipes for the most decadent and flavorful sweets sold in her New York City vegan bakery. While not all of the recipes are gluten-free, McKenna shares tips on how to adapt them or avoid them based on one simple ingredient: spelt. If it has spelt in the recipe list, then you know it’s not gluten-free. Otherwise, go wild! Get your sweet-tooth fix with everything from Sweet Paradise Cake to Agave-Sweetened Brownie Gems, and lest we forget the signature Babycakes foundation: the cupcake! Adapting the McKenna protocol of practice makes perfect, you can enjoy hours of gluten-free baking, and the healthful ingredients make it a little less sinful!
The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook
By Vanessa Maltin
(Wiley, $19.95)
A gluten-free life and a celiac disease diagnosis needn’t mean a life sentence of boring, tasteless food. Instead, Maltin embraces the gluten-free lifestyle and makes it (dare I say?) tasty with Italian, Asian and Mexican recipes! The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook is filled with information on celiac disease as well as a first-hand account in the introduction written by former CNN Newsroom anchor Heidi Collins, who shares in gritty detail just how difficult living with celiac is, both physically and mentally. Enter Maltin, who offers up not only mouth-watering recipes, but also tools for navigating the gluten-free lifestyle, label reading, and more. The only two gripes are lack of photographs and nutritional values, both of which should be cookbook standards. Otherwise, it’s a great addition to any cookbook collection!
Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef
By Shauna James Ahern and Daniel Ahern
(Wiley; $29.95)
Who doesn’t love a wholesome, heart-warming love story? Couple it with some unbelievably tantalizing recipes, and you have sheer literary perfection. Between each succulent recipe is more insight into the authors’—the chef and the gluten-free girl—relationship. There are sweet memories of their first date and laughter-inducing tales of the marriage proposal, each story leading into a companion gluten-free recipe. Additional bonuses include potential recipe variations and food pairing suggestions. Note, however, that a majority of these recipes are chef-caliber (the title says it all), meaning if you’re a kitchen beginner and depending on your personality, you’ll either be intimidated by them or amped up for the culinary challenge. Either way, this book is a thumbs-up as much for the recipes as it is for the love story.
The Gluten-Free Good Health Cookbook
By Annalise G. Roberts and Claudia Pillow, Ph.D.
(Agate, $18.95)
Looking beyond the gluten-free diet, this book also encourages overall simple healthy eating habits, placing emphasis on the fact that eliminating gluten does not a healthy diet make. The authors are two sisters who decided to write the book after Roberts was diagnosed with celiac disease. The goal? To recreate their favorite recipes as tasty gluten-free versions. Prior to diving into the recipes, though, they offer background on why a healthy and gluten-free diet makes sense and tips on how to stick with it. Look for rich comfort foods typically found in an unhealthy diet, but re-created with a healthier twist. Think spinach and goat cheese pie, butternut squash gratin, chicken noodle gratin, and more.
