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(More customer reviews)I'm not a celiac, but I am allergic to wheat, so for many years, I have sought out gluten-free recipes for the breads and pastries I've been deprived of. After trying countless recipes turning out crumbly cookies, hard, dry bread, and odd-tasting pastries, I found Gluten-Free Baking by Rebecca Reilly, the best book out there. The results of these recipes taste as good as (no kidding) the ones served at a high-end pastry shop.
No wonder, since the author was trained not only at Le Cordon Bleu, but also at Le Notre Patissier, the leading pastry school. She has the experience of running her own restaurant, cafe, and catering businesses as well as teaching others how to cook. She'd been exploring gluten-free baking for her clientele even before her son and daughter were diagnosed as celiacs! All these credentials add up to a well-tested, easy-to-understand, and enlightening collection of recipes. But the highest recommendation comes from my wheat-eating friends, who really DON'T realize that anything is missing or "weird" about these treats, something they've never been able to say about my past efforts, despite claims by the authors of those recipes that they'd never tell the difference.
Reilly's training allows her to explain how certain classic baking techniques can provide air and lightness to gluten-free recipes, which can otherwise suffer from the density of particular alternative ingredients. She reveals which ingredients can create elasticity and provide structure in lieu of gluten, so that readers can feel empowered knowing not only how to make these recipes, but also why they work. I gained so much confidence in baking that I even made the scrumptious Black Forest Cake, a labor I probably wouldn't have even attempted in my wheat-eating days. (By the way, it's totally worth the effort.) Amazingly, the recipes range from the simplest brownies to baklava, so there's something for all palates and skill levels.
With all due respect to Bette Hagman, author of The Gluten-Free Gourmet books and an undisputed pioneer in the gluten-free quest, I would love to see Reilly's take on yeast breads as well as on gluten-free cooking. I think there's enough of the gluten-free pie to go around, and all of us in the wheat-free community (and our friends) would benefit.
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Gluten-Free Baking: More Than 125 Recipes for Delectable Sweet and Savory Baked Goods, Including Cakes, Pies, Quick Breads, Muffins, Cookies, and Other Delights If you are among the 1 in 250 American adults intolerant to gluten or allergic to wheat, you know how frustrating it can be to crave -- but not be able to have -- a buttery scone or a slice of warm pie. And if you have kids who are gluten-sensitive, you know how much they miss being able to bite into a chewy chocolate chip cookie when they come home from school or share a friend's birthday cake. Now you don't have to sit wistfully by while family and friends indulge in dessert or other confections. Inspired to create delectable treats for her own gluten-sensitive family, Cordon Bleu-trained chef Rebecca Reilly believes that eating should be a pleasure, no matter what your dietary issues are. In Gluten-Free Baking, she shares more than 125 recipes for sweet and savory baked goods, from crispy cookies and meltingly tender muffins to elegant tartlets and quiches and stunning layer cakes. Baking without wheat can be notoriously tricky, but by using Reilly's detailed step-by-step recipes, anyone will be able to turn out moist Pumpkin Bread and tender Sour Cream Coffee Cake. S'mores made with gluten-free Graham Crackers, Crisp Ginger Molasses Cookies, Lemon Squares, and Pound Cake are kid- and family-pleasing favorites that will no longer be off-limits. And no one who tastes the glorious Chocolate Pecan Torte, Ginger Brie Quiche, or homey Blueberry Pudding Cake will ever think they're missing something by eating gluten-free. In addition, you'll find specifics on everything you need to know about gluten-free baking but were afraid (or didn't know enough) to ask, including how to stock a gluten-free kitchen, tips, techniques, and sources for ingredients, plus a list of resources and information on celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Tempting color photographs show you that these are desserts with eye as well as mouth appeal. With Gluten-Free Baking you'll never again miss out on the opportunity to feast on sinfully rich desserts!
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