Some New Books

Nothing--and I mean nothing--gets an English major more excited than a new, good book.  Today I got two that I hope are both winners.  The first is:

I've heard good recommendations for this book from a few chefs we work with.  I'm excited to try it.  If I can make tasty waffles (see cover) then the whole family will be glad!

This second book is my new Bible.  I have read the first 30 or so pages so far (I actually always sit down and read new cookbooks from the beginning-I'm funky like that-and this one proves to be worth it's weight in gold!  I am already so very grateful for what Colette Martin had to go through and all her experimenting so that I don't have to!  

To be honest, I like to cook, but I LOVE to bake.  I'm trying to keep up a straight face for the kids, but this change in baking ingredients is really hitting me hard.  I make a mean croissant (amongst other favorite pastries) and I'm just not sure that's really possible allergen-free.  Hello, BUTTER! Not to mention the wheat!  I feel like finding 3-meal-a-day food we can eat is honestly not that hard.  I'm limited in our sauce and flavoring ingredients, but meat, vegetables and fruits are all still available to us.  What's not available are all my favorite grains that go in my flour mixes.  Neither is our whole wheat bread that I've been making now for at least 9 years.  I'm pretty sure I'm still in shock or denial or just completely inexperienced, because I'm actually feeling very...motivated (excited isn't really the right word).  I honestly want to stay up all night baking and baking until I find something that tastes good!  We have so far made pancakes from a boxed mix from the store, just to test out some different flour flavors, pumpkin muffins with coconut flour and some brownies.  I tried the brownies last night and they were...YUCKY!  I used brown rice syrup as the sweetener, which works in granola bars, but in these just tasted like flour with rice syrup poured over it.  It was gross!  Our daughter (usually the picky one) actually liked them-go figure-but the rest of us politely declined seconds, even though our first was just a small trial size.  Colette Martin promises somewhere in those first 30 pages that you really can  make yummy, allergen-free, chocolate baked goods.  Watch out, Colette, here I come with my spatula and mixer!