Cookbook Review: Gluten-Free on a Shoestring, Quick and Easy by Nicole Hunn

I just received a copy of Nicole Hunn's new cookbook, Gluten-Free on a Shoestring, Quick and Easy 100 Recipes for the Food You Love--Fast! I loved Nicole's first cookbook simply titled Gluten-Free on a Shoestring; her popover recipe rocks!  In her new book there is a recipe for chocolate popovers, which are out of this world... thanks Nicole!  Nicole's new cookbook also has a great recipe for gluten free mini chocolate donuts which I am anxious to try... I even bought my daughters a mini donut machine for Christmas so we can make Nicole's recipe (shhh don't tell!).

About the book...

"People who follow a gluten-free diet—avoiding all foods with even a trace of wheat, barley, and rye in their ingredients—don’t always have the quick and cheap food options that their friends do…until now. Gluten-free guru Nicole Hunn is back with 100 new quick-prep and make-ahead recipes for dinners, yeast-free breads, baked goods, snacks, breakfasts, and more. These unique timesaving recipes take advantage of readily available gluten-free ingredients, low-cost packaged goods, and kitchen shortcuts. Created with the busy family in mind, Hunn shares her secrets to getting a scrumptious meal on the table in fewer than thirty minutes—without breaking the bank. Recipes include Super-Quick Cinnamon Rolls, Yeast-Free English Muffins, Easy Veggie Burgers, Weeknight Chicken Soup, Cheesecake Cookies, Make-Your-Own Yellow Cake Mix, and more."

Cookbook Review: Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cooking

As many of you know I am a lifelong fan of all things Betty Crocker.  I love that they have created affordable and tasty gluten free foods in the last few years, especially their dessert mixes and Bisquick.  Now the folks at Betty Crocker have written a gluten free cookbook full of delicious recipes, some using Betty Crocker gluten free mixes and others using regular gluten free flours.  I personally appreciate the recipes that use the Betty Crocker gluten free mixes, as they are time savers for my busy family.

I made a super-easy cherry coffee cake recipe from the Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cooking book that utilized gluten free Bisquick and my family loved it!  The cake was moist and flavorful and was a real treat for breakfast or dessert.  You can substitute any flavor of canned pie filling you wish in the recipe with great results; I will definitely make it again.

I am looking forward to making many more of the recipes from Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cooking.  I hope you will enjoy this wonderful additional to your gluten free cookbook library as much as I do!

My Recipe was Published in the Newest Gooseberry Patch Cookbook!

Hi everyone... I am excited to share that my Mustard Thyme Potato Salad recipe was published in the newest Gooseberry Patch cookbook entitled 101 Soups, Salads & Sandwiches!  I haven't received my copy yet, but based on the cover art (above) it appears that my recipe is also featured on the cover! Woo hoo! 

I have been a loyal  fan of all things Gooseberry Patch for over a decade and now I am a tiny piece of their history (I am feeling all warm and fuzzy inside right now). :)

If you purchase a copy of 101 Soups, Salads & Sandwiches be sure to leave a comment here and let me know how you liked the recipes!

Note:  I can't say how many of the recipes inside are gluten free, with the exception of mine of course, but I would imagine the ones that aren't can be easily modified.

Have a yummy day!

Cookbook Review: Gluten Free Makeovers

Have you heard about Beth Hillson's new cookbook Gluten-Free Makeovers?  If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet I highly recommend that you do!  Gluten-Free Makeovers is chock full of family favorite recipes that you may remember missing from when you used to eat gluten - the author used her years of culinary training to makeover these recipes so that you never have to miss them again!

So far, my favorite recipes from the Gluten-Free Makeovers cookbook are: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup and Socca (Chickpea Flatbread).  Double-plus-good!  I am looking forward to experimenting with more of the tempting recipes in this fantastic new cookbook!

About the author:

"Beth Hillson is the founder of Gluten-Free Pantry, the president of the American Celiac Disease Alliance, and the food editor of Living Without magazine. She lives in Connecticut."


Disclosure of Material Connection: I was not compensated for this review. I received the item/items featured in this post for review purposes courtesy of the product company and/or its PR or publishing company. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions I have expressed are solely my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Cookbook Giveaway & Review: Gluten Free on a Shoestring (Plus GF Popover Recipe from the Book!)

One of my favorite things about having a gluten free blog is that I have the pleasure of reviewing a wide variety of gluten free cookbooks.  I recently  reviewed a new cookbook entitled Gluten Free on a Shoestring by Nicole Hunn, who authors a gluten free blog by the same name.

Nicole Hunn had my attention when I discovered that her gluten free recipes focused on being cost effective.  Like many others, I am trying to follow a budget and as we all know the price of purchasing gluten free foods can add up quickly.  Gluten Free on a Shoestring promises family-friendly fare that is made from scratch, for significantly less money than when pricey gluten free mixes and convenience foods are used.  

There is a photo of an insanely delicious looking gluten free popover on the cover of Gluten Free on a Shoestring; my family all agreed that we should try this tempting recipe first.  I made the filling for a vegetable pot pie, but instead of topping it with gluten free pastry crust or biscuits as I usually do, we split open freshly baked flaky popovers and served them on top of individual bowls of the  pot pie filling.  The result?  My family absolutely loved them... the only problem was that we wished we had doubled the recipe so we could have more!

For my dairy free readers, I substituted the butter in the recipe for Earth Balance Buttery Spread, and used Almond Milk instead of cows milk.  The only difference between the appearance of our dairy free popovers and the popovers pictured on the cover of the cookbook is that ours were a very light golden color, not the deep golden brown that is a result of baking with regular dairy-containing butter.  The flavor and texture was spot-on though!

"Inside this comprehensive cookbook, you’ll find 125 delicious and inexpensive gluten-free recipes for savory dinners, favorite desserts, comfort foods, and more, plus Nicole’s top money-saving secrets."

Recipes include:

• Apple-Cinnamon Toaster Pastries
• Focaccia
• Spinach Dip
• Ricotta Gnocchi
• Chicken Pot Pie
• Szechuan Meatballs
• Tortilla Soup
• Baked Eggplant Parmesan
• Never-Fail White Sandwich Bread
• Banana Cream Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
• Banana-Blueberry Muffins
• Cinnamon Rolls
• Perfect Chocolate Birthday Cake

"With advice on the best values and where to find them, meal planning strategies, and pantry-stocking tips, Gluten-Free on a Shoestring is your essential guide. Never fall victim to the overpriced, pre-packaged gluten-free aisle again. Roll on by—happier, healthier, and wealthier."

Macaroni & Cheese 
On a shoestring: $1.84
On the shelf: $4.49
You save 59%!

Chocolate Chip Brownies
On a shoestring: $0.29
On the shelf: $1.00
You save 71%!

Berry Scones
On a shoestring: $0.42
On the shelf: $1.75
You save 76%!

Soft Pretzels
On a shoestring: $0.17
On the shelf: $2.00
You save 91%!

(prices per serving)

"Nicole Hunn is the personality behind the Gluten-Free on a Shoestring blog, featured in the New York Times and on MSN Money. She lives with her family in Westchester County, New York."

Popovers (Gluten Free) 

Makes 6 large, or 12 small, popovers

1 cup all-purpose gluten-free flour
½ teaspoon xanthan gum
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten, at room temperature
1 cup milk (low-fat is fine, nonfat is not), at room temperature

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease well a 6-cup popover pan (or a regular muffin tin, if you don’t have a popover pan) with unsalted butter and set it aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, xanthan gum, and salt. Add the butter, eggs, and milk, whisking well after each addition until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin.

Fill each of the wells in the pan just under halfway full. Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake for a total of 30 minutes. After the first 20 minutes, with a sharp knife or with sharp kitchen shears, pierce the top of each popover to allow steam to escape so that the popovers are able to maintain their puffiness.

Serve plain or with your favorite jam or preserves.

From Gluten-Free on a Shoestring 

by Nicole Hunn 
published by Da Capo Lifelong

WIN IT:

(1) Lucky Gluten Free Taste of Home follower will WIN a copy of the Gluten Free on a Shoestring cookbook. (Retail value $19.00)

TO ENTER GIVEAWAY (#1 is a mandatory entry):

1) Become a Gluten Free Taste of Home follower (must follow PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect in the side bar of this website) AND visit the Dapo Lifelong Books website to view their other gluten free cookbooks; LEAVE ME A COMMENT telling me you now follow me PUBLICLY, AND tell me the name of another gluten free cookbook you found on your visit to the the Dapo Lifelong Books website that you would like to have (other than Gluten Free on a Shoestring, please). (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES (each entry comment must be entered separately to be a valid entry):

2) "Like" my Gluten Free Taste of Home page on Facebook; LEAVE ME A COMMENT telling me you did this. (1 entry)

3) "Like" my Freebie Fairy page on Facebook; LEAVE ME A COMMENT telling me you did this. (1 entry)

4) Blog about this giveaway linking it back to this blog post AND the Gluten Free on a Shoestring page of the Da Capo Lifelong Books website. Please LEAVE ME A COMMENT with THE LINK TO YOUR POST or it will not count. (3 entries)

5) Follow Gluten Free Taste of Home on Twitter AND tweet the giveaway; LEAVE ME A COMMENT (with your twitter link) telling me you did it. (one entry per tweet/RT; DO NOT EXCEED (1) TWEET/RT PER HOUR!)

6) Follow Da Capo Cooking on Twitter; LEAVE ME A COMMENT telling me you did it. (1 entry)

7) Vote for Gluten Free Taste of Home on Picket Fence Blogs (click the "We're on the Fence!" button in the sidebar of this blog to vote). (1 entry)

8) Grab my Gluten Free Taste of Home button and display it on your website/blog (copy the html code for my button from the sidebar of this website and paste the code into your website), and LEAVE ME A COMMENT with a LINK to where you pasted my button. (1 entry)

9) Subscribe to Gluten Free Taste of Home via e-mail (in right hand sidebar of this blog). (1 entry)

*GIVEAWAY OPEN TO US & CANADA*

Giveaway ends on Monday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m. PST (entries received after this time will not be posted). Winner will be selected by random.org. Winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected; PLEASE NOTE: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR E-MAIL REPLIES THAT ARE SENT TO ME AND NOT RECEIVED IN MY INBOX FOR ANY REASON. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A PROMPT REPLY BACK FROM ME ASSUME I DID NOT RECEIVE YOUR E-MAIL. RE-SEND YOUR REPLY UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM ME WITHIN 48 HOURS (FROM THE TIME I SENT YOUR WINNER'S NOTIFICATION E-MAIL) OR A NEW WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN. LEAVING AN ENTRY COMMENT ON THIS POST WILL SERVE AS ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS.

*REMEMBER... please leave your e-mail address with EACH entry so I can contact you if you win.

Best of luck!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was not compensated for this review.  I received the item/items featured in this post for review purposes courtesy of the product company and/or its PR or publishing company. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions I have expressed are solely my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Cookbook Review: Cooking for Isaiah - Gluten Free & Dairy Free Recipes for Easy, Delicious Meals

A few weeks ago General Mills invited my family to attend an exclusive cooking demonstration in Seattle by Silvana Nardone,  author of the recently released Cooking for Isaiah cookbook.  The cooking demonstration was actually part of Silvana's Cooking for Isaiah book tour, in which she illustrated how to use gluten free Chex cereal in one of the recipes.  My family had the pleasure of tasting such delicious treats as stuffed shrimp scampi, cornbread stacks with spicy greens, and double chocolate Chex pie.  Both the shrimp and cornbread recipes are included in the Cooking for Isaiah cookbook, and they tasted amazing!

Cooking for Isaiah author Silvana Nardone and me.

I received a copy of Cooking for Isaiah to bring home, and was impressed with the unique spin that Silvana has applied to easy family friendly recipes.  All of the recipes in the book were created with Silvana's son Isaiah in mind; she had to learn to prepare gluten free/dairy free recipes that he would enjoy when he was diagnosed with food intolerances.

I am looking forward to trying more of the recipes in Cooking for Isaiah; if they are even half as tasty as the recipes that my family sampled during Silvana's cooking demonstration, then I know my family will love them!

Visit Silvana's Dish Towel Diaries blog for links on where to purchase Cooking for Isaiah.  Be sure to check out the great gluten free recipes posted on Silvana's blog too!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was not compensated for this post; I received a press invitation to the author's Seattle cooking demonstration from General Mills, and a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes courtesy of the author. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Coming December 2010: THE CAKE MIX DOCTOR BAKES GLUTEN-FREE & a Cake Recipe from the Book!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce the highly anticipated upcoming release of The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free by Anne Byrn (one of my all time favorite cookbook authors!)

I will be reviewing the cookbook closer to it's December release... this is just announcement to let you know that it is coming!  I am literally counting the days until December when I can get my hands on a copy of this book; you will be the first to know!

I had the honor of testing a few of the gluten free cake recipes in this book for Anne Byrn while she was writing it, and even had the pleasure of chatting with her about gluten free baking on the phone.  She is such a warm and friendly person, no wonder every recipe I have ever made from her cookbooks tastes so comforting!

Much to my delight, I was recently asked to sample a recipe from The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free called Kitchen Sink Gingerbread Cake, and was provided with a box of gluten free yellow cake mix for use in the recipe.  The aroma of ginger and cinnamon made my house smell like the holidays when it was baking, and the final product was moist and tasted divine.  

Recipe Sneak Peek:

Gluten Free Kitchen Sink Gingerbread Cake Recipe (Courtesy of The Cake Mix Doctor):

Vegetable oil spray, for misting the pan

1 package (15 ounces) yellow gluten free cake mix
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
8 tablespoons (1stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 large eggs, 2/3 cup apple cider or water
2 tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, or 1 teaspoon grated orange zest

1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly mist an 8-inch square pan with vegetable oil spray and set the pan aside.

2. Place the cake mix, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Cut the butter into tablespoons, then add it and the eggs, apple cider or water, molasses, and vanilla or zest and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are just incorporated, 30 seconds. Stop the machine and scrape down the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat the batter until smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes longer, scraping down the side of the bowl again if needed. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the rubber spatula, and place the pan in the oven.

3. Bake the cake until the top springs back when lightly pressed with a finger, 52 to 57 minutes.. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cake cool completely, 15 to 20 minutes. if desired.

Keep It Fresh! Store the cake in the pan, covered with plastic wrap at room temperature for up to three days. Freeze the cake, wrapped in aluminum foil, for up to one month. To serve the cake warm, reheat it, partially covered with aluminum foil, in a 300 F oven until warmed through, 30 minutes.

The Cake Mix Doctor Says: 

Try a variation with 1 chopped, peeled apple stirred in once the batter is blended.

*My adjustments to this recipe:

I substituted Earth Balance Buttery Spread instead of butter to make this cake dairy free, with excellent results.  My oven runs hot, so I reduced the baking time to 48 minutes.  My cake was completely done in 48 minutes; next time I will check the cake after 40 minutes. 

ABOUT THE CAKE MIX DOCTOR BAKES GLUTEN-FREE:

"Thirty million Americans are gluten-intolerant or have a gluten sensitivity, eliminating it from their diets because gluten—a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley—has been implicated in health issues ranging from respiratory problems and abdominal discomfort to anemia, anxiety, and infertility. The food industry has bullishly taken notice. Gluten-free baking products, including cake mixes from Betty Crocker, King Arthur, Whole Foods, and others, have increased sevenfold on grocery shelves in recent years, and the number of other gluten-free products has grown as well—832 were introduced in 2008 alone. And gluten-free options are on the menu of national restaurants like Boston Market, Chili’s, Ruby Tuesday, Outback Steakhouse, and others."

"Now comes even sweeter news for people looking to cut gluten from their diets: Anne Byrn shows how to transform gluten-free cake mixes into 76 rich, decadent, easy-to-make, impossible-to-resist desserts. Performing the magic that’s made her a bestselling baking author with over 33 million copies of her books in print, she doctors mixes with additions like almond extract, fresh berries, cocoa powder, grated coconut, cinnamon, lime zest, and more—naturally, all gluten-free ingredients—and voilà: Tres Leches Cake with Whipped Cream and Summer Berries, Almond Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Chocolate Cupcakes with Milk Chocolate Ganache, Caramel Melted Ice Cream Cake, Warm Tarte Tatin Apple Cake, plus brownies, bars, muffins, and cookies. Dessert is back on the menu." 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

"Anne Byrn is the author of the bestselling Cake Mix Doctor series, with over 3.3 million copies in print. She makes frequent appearances on Good Morning America and QVC. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family, and her website is www.cakemixdoctor.com."

PRE-ORDER THIS BOOK:

The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free will be available for purchase from Workman.com on Dec 8, 2010. For now you can pre-order from one of these online retailers: 

• AMAZON.COM  

• BARNES AND NOBLE  

• POWELL'S BOOKS  

• INDIEBOUND

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was not compensated for this post; I received a complimentary box of gluten free cake mix and 3 recipes for review purposes courtesy of Workman Publishing.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”