How Can it be Gluten Free Cookbook

The question some have asked, bent over with cramps, is "When did eating a sandwich on white bread become nearly lethal?"

Good question, and I don't know the answer, but I do know that more and more people are suffering from "wheat belly" (to mention another book title) and discovering that ordinary bread can lack nutrition and actually cause a lot of harm. Like, stomach aches, diarrhea and other nastiness. Whether it's the environment itself that is making people allergic, or badly raised and poorly manufactured vegetable product, more and more people are looking to "gluten free" foods for some relief.

Only..."gluten free" foods are tricky. I've tried some of the manufactured cookies and breads, and noticed that to compensate for the lack of taste, a lot of extra sugar is added. That only creates a different kind of belly ache.

The authors here admit that "replacing wheat flour is tricky business," and "simply substituting a gluten-free flour blend for regular flour doesn't work. We needed to completely rethink each and every recipe employing a host of tricks and techniques to get the results we wanted...many batters and doughs are better when rested for 30 minutes...vinegar helped to produce a flaky, tender pie pastry....using less butter but adding cream cheese to a pound cake recipe made for a lighter, better cake..."

And, yes, a simple slice of "gluten free" bread involves "powdered psyllium husk for structure, milk powder for browning, and oat flour to boost protein levels..." Store-bought versions simply aren't very good, so if you've got the time and the tenacity, this cookbook will lead you to some healthier food choices. If you're not sure you have the time or tenacity, the book argues its case with chapters on The Science of Gluten, Key Test Kitchen Discoveries, and even rating Sandwich Breads. The "test kitchen" here was not only for producing good recipes, but evaluating what you can find in the supermarket. For those very seriously in trouble due to food allergies, this book does offer a return to normalcy...after all, there are even recipes for a good coating for Southern Fried Chicken, and an attempt at a "New York Style Pizza" featuring...ground almonds. No, it's not the real thing, but if you do it right, it can be the "next best thing." And you'll stay at the dinner table instead of the bathroom.