artisan_agfccoverArtisanal Gluten-Free Cooking by Kelli and Peter Bronski is one of the most beautiful cookbooks I’ve seen in a while. Right off the bat, as you start reading about how Peter learned that there is an emotional attachment to food that one might not realize before going gluten-free, you will connect with his and Kelli’s journey. The sense of loss when one faces such a major life change is something only those of us who go through it can understand. When we have a phenomenal piece of gluten-free pizza when dining out, others around us do not understand why tears well up in our eyes.

Another thing that makes the book so great is the fact that it isn’t  overloaded with gluten-free replacement food recipes. Don’t worry – there are plenty of great selections in every category, but there is more to this cookbook than what one might expect. In addition to the things you’d expect to find like recipes for breads and desserts, there are also recipes for sides, soups and salads, appetizers, entrees and even drinks. There are not just a few offerings in those categories but many in each of them. From Shrimp Cocktail with Homemade Sauce to Mozzarella Sticks to Sweet and Sour Chicken – it’s all in this cookbook!

If you’re ambitious enough to want to make your own homemade corn tortillas, there is a recipe for those, which actually doesn’t look that difficult. There are dishes that represent many different cuisines including Coconut Red Curry Stir-Fry, Sushi Rolls and Gnocchi – to name just a few. Basics like Seared Scallops, Homemade French Fries and Wild Rice are also included. The dessert and bread recipes will have your mouth watering in no time. Below are just a few of the really special things I picked out to try eventually. Right now, I need a break from sweets after all the gluten-free goodies I enjoyed during the holidays.

  • Angel Food Cake with Strawberries
  • Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache
  • Apple Pie with Streusel Topping
  • Dessert Crepe with a Trio of Sauces
  • Cinnamon Sugar Tortillas (OK- I’ll admit I’m using ready made La Tortilla Factory tortillas for this one!)

If you’ve been wanting to make your own gluten-free ravioli, the Artisanal Gluten-Free Cooking cookbook has you covered. Whether you’re a deep dish pizza lover or prefer a super thin crust – you’ll find recipe options for both in this great cookbook. Though many of us roll our eyes at well meaning friends when they ask if we can just order a salad wherever they want to eat, this book actually has amazing salad recipes that you’ll want to make and eat!

Make sure to check out the Bronski’s blog, No Gluten, No Problem where they share recipe creations and great tips about living gluten-free deliciously. The latter is something I strive to do each day. Kelli and Peter have done themselves proud with this lovely book. Their special artisan gluten-free flour blend recipe calls for three flours, two starches and xanthan gum. There is a recipe to make either 3 or 12 cups of flour at a time. Not being one to mix up my own flour, I plan to use a ready made gluten-free flour in some of the recipes in this book. I’ve done this with other cookbooks and for the most part have had great success. It seems that if you have a really good gluten-free flour blend, it will work well in many recipes that call for a different gluten-free flour blend. The key is that your flour has to be a good all-purpose flour to start with. Don’t just take plain rice flour and use it in a recipe unless that is what is calls for. Gluten-free flour blends are needed for the best tasting gluten-free foods, always.  In addition to being available on the author’s website, th book is also available on Amazon.com.

Please leave a comment below for your chance to win an author signed copy of this lovely and deliciously well done gluten-free cookbook! Winner will be posted on Wednesday, January 13th – good luck!

UPDATE: 1-13-09 / Congrats to Tim who won the copy of Artisanal Gluten-Free Cooking!

Special thanks to the Bronski’s for my review copy of their beautiful book!