A Few Questions For My Cookbook

[lorka150]

I am just finishing up most of the recipes that are in my book. I just have a few questions.

I want to first say that this is a whole foods based cookbook (optimal health!) ALL of which is gluten and casein free. There are NO pre-made products use (example, 1/4 c. of dairy-free cheese) and so on. I've recreated all of my recipes to taste just as good without (nutritional yeast is my friend!). I find pre-made things frustrating with my allergy to rice, and I want to leave stuff like that out becasue so many are soy sensitive.

Everything has an egg-free and soy-free and vegan option.

That being said, I want to make sure that I do include recipes that are ones that you would buy a book for. I am aiming this towards foods that you miss that you find hard to re-create - NOT foods like a rice stirfry that you made a million times before you were gluten-free because it was naturally that!

So, that being said, what are 'must haves'? If you picked up a book and flicked to the index to check if there was __________ and ___________ and don't forget ____________! what would they be?

Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated - after all, you're who it's for.

Thanks

Laurie

[MySuicidalTurtle]

Soups and desserts is something I always look for. I would especially love to see creamy gluten-free vegan soups.

[ArtGirl]

Because I am an experienced cook and can make many entrees free of allergens, I would be looking for special things like sauces or condements that I cannot purchase ready-made (or they're so expensive I don't like to buy them) like sauces, ketchup, chili sauce, egg/dairy-free "creamed" sauces and gravies. (So many store-bought things have citric acid in them and with my corn allergy, that's out.)

Good breads and cakes/cookies without egg, and something that resembles cheesecake without dairy would be a delight. And a frozen dessert that's creamy.

Chicken-fried steak or other "breaded" meats (again, that don't require egg).

I skim through gluten-free cookbooks to check if the recipes rely heavily on egg, yogurt or tofu and if they do, then it's not a cookbook for me. However, if the author gives alternatives to these (especially the egg), then that might be an incentive for me to buy it.

I like the idea of the foods being all natural and not including processed foods of any kind. I havebeen very frustrated by so many bread recipes that include commercial egg replacer (which contains corn!!!)

[lorka150]

Thanks so far.

Luckily, the best part of this is that you are reinforcing things I am already thinking of.

Condiments is a big one for me, too, as I don't buy anything pre-made.

WHen I first got sick, my mum went gluten and casein free with me (for her MS), and I really didn't want to deprive her from anything. It was really important for me to re-create her favourites - and a lot of the desserts were creamy ones, so I needed ice creams and creamy pies and cakes and whenever I looked up ANYTHING it all called for "Dairy free cream cheese".

I'd get mad because I couldn't eat that!

Anyway, so it began, and thanks for the reinforcement. I hope this book does well.

[marciab]

I'd like a book with definitions and pictures of foreign ingredients, like agave, stevia, nutritional yeast vs regular yeast ... The form these come in would be good too. Liquid vs powder.

Also a substitution chart for things like xanthum gum, guar gum, etc. Nice to have if you run out of something ...

A section on the best cooking utensils would be good. For example cast iron pans are good for increasing iron in the diet. Teflon vs stainless steel.

A section on appliances. What is a tortilla maker ? How to chose a food processor ? Grain mill ?

I really need a how to cook book ... I would never have learned this much about cooking if I didn't have allergies.

What is the best way to store grains, xanthum gum, etc ...

Quick tips on using spices like curry, oregano ...

... hope this helps ... Marcia ...

[TinkerbellSwt]

I really like the idea of how to store all your flours and gums and such etc. I just happen to hear things here and there about how to take care of my flours and such. I always like the "different" ways to make the usual a bit different. Take the staple, chicken breast, I find a different receipe I am all over that... only so many ways to eat that before blech.. no more!

Good luck with the cookbook, let us know when its done!

[Fiddle-Faddle]

I don't have any suggestions--I just wanted to say what a great job you are doing and how much I like your bread recipe!

[jkmunchkin]

First off let me say, I am SO EXCITED you are doing this!!!!

Like a couple of others have said, sauces and gravies are a big one. I would love to have a recipe for a really good, but easy cream of mushroom gravy.

Hmmm... some other stuff I would love, pancakes and breads (ofcourse). I'm sure there's tons of stuff I would love to see but just can't think of right now.

I love that you're doing this!!

[tarnalberry]

I look for appetizers and other small things - but *quick* appetizers.

I also look for pictures. I let my visual taste buds be my guide with cookbooks.

[pinktulip]

I look for easy. And quick.

Cakes, (chocolate espically)and cookies and such.

[Looking for answers]

Quick and easy meals. I miss the days of throwing a casserole together and calling it a day! I've been searching for a book like the one you're putting together. Please let us know when it's available!

[mamatide]

So, that being said, what are 'must haves'? If you picked up a book and flicked to the index to check if there was __________ and ___________ and don't forget ____________! what would they be?

Off the top of my head, I'd say I'd be looking for:

1. Kid-friendly cooking (or better yet, options to make adult-type recipes more appealing to kids - add apples to muffins, add chocolate chips, or whatever)

2. A good cinnamon roll recipe that's light. The best one I've found so far is the one on the Food Philosopher's website but they're really heavy. Something a little lighter, fluffier.

3. High-protein options, again I'm thinking for my DD who's still underweight, where you can make every bit count (adding nuts, adding eggs).

4. on the same note - full fat vs. low fat options - we don't cut fats or calories at this stage because we're working at gaining weight.

5. troubleshooting on the bread recipe (if the bread falls, try this; etc.)

6. the science of flours - how starches work vs how flours work. Identify flours with higher nutritional value vs those with lower nutritional values. In your bread specifically, you are loose with your blends (which is nice) but suggesting combinations (does sorghum go with quinoa? amaranth?)

Good luck! If you want a test kitchen you can depend on mine if you like!

mamatide

[emcmaster]

Ok, mine is pretty simple and reinforces what others have said:

I want recipes for things that aren't easy to adapt. Basically, baked goods, sauces & condiments. I find that most "gluten-free" recipes are not very good and that I'm much better off at adapting recipes that weren't made to be gluten-free.

I'm so excited about this!

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Ooh--I take it back--I do have a suggestion--Quick and Easy Casseroles!!!!!!!!!!!

[ArtGirl]

After reading others' suggestions, I thought of something else that I appreciate in cookbooks.

Suggestions for variations to a basic recipe, such as with muffins, sweet breads, cakes, etc. - or even sauces or main dishes (different meats using different seasonings, etc.), pizza toppings, fillings for sandwiches/wraps.

[marciab]

Not trying to be a hog here, but I didn't see any reference to cold or soft treats like soy, corn, dairy free ice cream and a CHEESE CAKE ... yum ... can you post the recipes here first ? marcia

[JayT]

I love easy to read with pictures!! Some basics like pizza crust and good old fashioned originals!

Good Luck!

[lorka150]

ArtGirl - you are in my mind! One of my 'chapters' is called "Themes and Variations".

I definitely have all of the alterna-versions of the favourites like cheesecakes and icecreams.

And every recipe WILL be adaptable (except maybe a few) to free from all of the other allergens, as well as yeast. The reason I say a few is, for example, my yeast breads won't be yeast-free, but there will be yeast-free breads.

To save you guys money, I cannot photo every single page, but I am going to try to photo all of the recipes that would need it (I mean, I won't photo the 'soy' sauce and mustard) because I don't want to sell 35$ cookbooks.

I also 'cook with my eyes', so I am going to do that, as best as I can.

One question - would a slow cooker section be good? I would like to include one, but not if it is as common as I might think.

Thanks!

[Felidae]

I agree that you don't need to photo everything. As long as you have some great photos throughout the book. There have been great suggestions and I'm not sure if I have anything to add.

I would definitely like to see some slow cooker recipes.

I'm so glad you are making this cookbook because I try to make everything from scratch also. Packaged foods drive me crazy, except for dry goods like Tinkyada pasta and Que Pasa tortilla chips. I can't wait to see your finished book.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Slow cooker recipes--YES!!!!

[AmyTopolski]

A slow cooker section would be awsome. Also, I would enjoy a substitution of flours. My daughter doesn't like bean flour so what do use instead when a recipe calls for it? I also agree with the condiments. My daughter is so severly reactive that she gets sick even when things are gluten free. So I make everything at home. Another helpful section would be crackers! My girls love crackers. All kinds of them! Dairy and egg free is a huge help. Especially things like cream cheese and sour cream. My girls have never had a cheese cake and I would live to make one for them. If I can think of something that isn't already posted I'll post agian.

Amy

I just saw a picture of a cream puff. Also Eclaires. These are a weekness.

[2kids4me]

I appreciate oookbooks that list carb counts. It helps us with managing portions for diabetes/celiac.

Cinamon rolls woul be up there!

Soups. quick casseroles and ditto to slow cooker recipes

[ArtGirl]

My girls love crackers. All kinds of them!

YES - crackers. I have not yet found a cracker recipe that didn't call for an egg!

[jkmunchkin]

I would love to see recipes to make fresh pasta that can be made into gnocchi, tortellini, ravioli, etc.

And like a few others have said, definately pictures!

[TinkerbellSwt]

Yes, pictures.. and slow cooker recipes... as many as possible.. would love to throw something together and forget about it all day. Also recipes that call for ingredients that you would just have around the house.. I love all kinds of stuff, but by the end of the week, before payday, I am down to the bare basics around the kitchen and I have no idea what to do! The same ol, same ol, is making me crazy.