the awesome gluten free cookbook review and giveaway

{I wrote this post the week before my surgery as I know today I’ll probably be sleeping. I’m also going to thank you in advance for all of your prayers. I’m grateful for all your care and support.}

About six weeks ago I was approached about reviewing a gluten free cookbook — a French gluten free cookbook. Ever since Samuel was diagnosed with Celiac Disease last January I’ve scoured the cookbook selections looking for options to supplement and replace some of our favorite recipes. Well, my friends, I was blessed to reveiw- —Living Gluten and Dairy Free with French Gourmet Food by Chef Alain Braux — and let me tell you, this book blessed me greatly.

In fact, I will be recommending this book to anyone diagnosed with Celiac Disease or looking for gluten free food and knowledge. It is hands down one of the best books I have ever read explaining Celiac Disease and the various gluten allergies.

Here’s the deal: the first section of the book is bursting with information about living Gluten Free/Dairy Free. It is peppered {get it? peppered? for a cookbook review? grin} with testimonies from patients who have experienced real, life-changes since switching to the gluten free diet.  Chef Alain Braux writes about healing your gut, other health issues that can be created by gluten intolerance, anemia, living gluten free/dairy free, and more. There is also a section on autism and the connection with diet. You can read more at his site Healthy Chef Recipes.

Then the book  gives one of the most thorough and extensive lists of foods/preservatives/additives that contain no gluten, gluten, dairy — titled Hidden Sources of Gluten and Dairy. That list alone makes the book invaluable. So often I have to research and research to get clear answers about food additives, preservatives — Chef Alain Braux has it neatly and concisely laid out. Sometimes I’ve thought about carrying the book around with me when I go to get groceries so while I’m reading the back of something I can be cross-referencing it with Chef Alain Braux’s gluten free safe list. If you are dealing with this type of diet his Appendixes are a must have.

And, on top of all of that, it’s a cookbook. All these yummy pictures? From that book. Full of awesome, delicious, unbelievable, yummy French recipes. Yes, French recipes. Recipes that I can cook — not too difficult — and yet full of delicious gluten free flavor. The recipes didn’t make me miss gluten at all. Some of our family’s favorites? Of course that cornbread that you see pictured above. It’s a super moist cornbread infused with Herbes de Provence. Mmmmm.

The Beef  Vegetable Soup. Sigh, so delicious.  I filled my grandmother’s stock pot with the veggies and beef, and let it simmer away filling our home with a to-die-for aroma. It was unbelievably good.  Every single member of my family asked for more — that alone is an almost impossible feat. And then, to top it off,  Todd told the kids that was better than anything you could get in a restaurant. Note to self – make more of Chef Alain Braux’s  Beef Vegetable Soup. 🙂 Or as I like to call it — Soupe de Legumes au Boeuf. Yep, that’s the French way.  Either way it is excellent and has now joined our family’s regular menu list.

The shortbread cookies. Oh my goodness — they are good — I made an entire batch of them and they were gone in minutes. Samuel alone tried to eat three. They were just as I remembered shortbread cookies — which are one of my favorites. I know these will go in our Christmas Cookie list. 🙂 Oh and know that I also made Beignets {yes, yes I did} that were eaten almost as fast as the cookies. They reminded me of the mini-doughnuts that we love and have missed since going gluten free. And, Todd, once again, said they were just as excellent. On my list to make this holiday season? The Flourless Chocolate Cake — pictures will be coming. There are breads to make, and main dishes, soups, salads, and more. An extensive collection of wonderful meals and treats.

I simply must thank Chef Alain Braux for blessing me with this cookbook. It will forever be in my kitchen with the stack of cookbooks that I use everyday. And, like I stated earlier, this cookbook will go on my recommended reading list to those who ask me about Celiac Disease and information about living gluten free. I am looking forward to reading other books that he has written as his wealth of knowledge is extensive. This cookbook {and others} are available at Amazon. With the holidays coming I know that this book will be on my must give list. 🙂 Again, you can look at his site here: Healthy Chef Recipes 

Chef Alain Braux is generously giving away one copy of Living Gluten Free and Dairy Free with French Gourmet Cooking to one of my readers. Trust me. This is one book that you are going to want one your book shelf. 🙂 And to add to the excitement and generosity — my friend Jimmie at Jimmie’s Collage {you must check out her blog – you’d love it!} also got to review one of Chef Alain Braux’s cookboooks — Healthy French Cuisine for Less than $10 a Day– and she too is giving one away. So enter here {below} and then pop over to Jimmie’s CLICK HERE and enter there!

MAKE SURE TO ADD YOUR ENTRY TO THE RAFFLECOPTER AFTER YOU LEAVE YOUR COMMENT!