Surprise! It's Gluten Free!

Good gluten-free books are hard to find! That's why I was so excited to review Surprise! It's Gluten-Free! 

Just because I am gluten-free does not mean I want to eat all kinds of strange combinations of food. I want those classics that everyone loves, just made in a way where I can eat it.

Surprise! It's Gluten-Free is the cookbook I was looking for. It is packed full of everyday recipes that the whole family will love and eat. 

The layout and pictures of the cookbook where also a huge win. When I am making a recipe, I want to see what is my "end-goal."

Wow super impressed with this cookbook. There are some delectable recipes in here I was especially impressed with the pumpkin bread and blueberry muffins. All the pictures showcase the recipes photographed and make them all look delicious. If you live a gluten free lifestyle it just like to look for new recipes for when you invite over someone with gluten allergies there should be something for everyone in this one.

I recommend this cookbook for beginners and seasoned gluten free eaters alike.

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

I've been cooking gluten free for 9 years and have a huge GF cookbook collection, but I'm always on the hunt for more. This is a good addition in many ways. There are color photos for about 1/3 to 1/4 of the recipes and there are lots of family favorites and indulgences here -- cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip cookies, donuts multiple ways (all baked), pancakes, waffles, pizza and so on. There are a few recipes tossed in for things that are not traditionally wheat-based like roasted broccolini.

The recipes tend towards processed carb-heavy, fattening and less than healthy, so this isn't a cookbook I'd use for everyday. That said, it is Standard American Diet (SAD) kind of stuff so many people probably would. It will really work well for learning how to remake foods you miss or that your kids have had to grow up without. The author says that one of her sons was gluten free, dairy free and paleo for a long time, but this is not that kind of book. It also relies fairly heavily on other allergens like eggs and dairy (though you can generally substitute), includes lots of wheat and meat, and is not well suited for families who are keto, paleo, vegan, etc. The use of products like canned gluten free cream of mushroom soup illustrates that this is a "cook all the SAD kinds of foods you or your child miss" kind of book, not a "heal your gut and regain your health" kind of book (I really like the Pinewood cookbook for a nice mix of both). That said, if that's what you're going for this will be a fantastic resource.

One note for people who like to cook with one gluten free mix instead of purchasing a variety of flours -- while Fisher says you can substitute mixes, she uses three main homemade mixes that she provides recipes for. These are pretty standard mixes and she's right that you'll get better results with mixing your own flours because different GF flours and starches work better in different types of recipes. Even if you substitute a one-for-one mix though, many of her recipes call for adding addition gluten free flours and starches besides her mixes (like it will call for the standard mix and another half cup of tapioca flour) so you will still need to buy at least a couple of flours. Honestly, you get better results this way (and I use way more specialty flours than she does, for health and taste), but I have heard a lot of people complain about having to buy specialty flours for gluten free cookbooks so I thought I'd mention it. For the most part, she uses mixes of white rice flour, brown rice flour, sorghum, tapioca starch and potato starch. She has a whole grain mix that also uses teff. I personally use a lot of healthier flours in my mixes like millet, almond, coconut, hazelnut and even acorn flour, and sweet rice flour is a great addition for really soft cakes, so I'm not bothered at all by her use of homemade blends.

Minus one star for having no nutritional information for the recipes, but this is otherwise a fun cookbook that's full of delicious treats.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

I wanted to eat my way through this cookbook! I appreciate the way the author provides fundamental basics important to a gluten free lifestyle such as flour blends, but then provides some great options for any meal of the day. I feel most of these recipes would be accessible to even those who are not seasoned chefs. But hands down the best part of this book is the photography! This is so incredibly important for a recipe book, but they really hit it out of the park because I just wanted to eat every single thing. Beautiful book, as a person with a gluten sensitivity I’m always looking for new recipes and an occasional book like this, and I will be excited to pick this up.

This looks like a great cookbook chock full of gluten free recipes that will taste good! The photographs are beautiful and the recipes all look flavorful and like things I would actually try, especially the blueberry muffins!

I’ve always had a sensitivity to gluten and dairy, but last summer I was abruptly forced to change my diet overnight to a gluten and dairy free diet, essentially cutting my diet in *more than* half. Its been a struggle navigating food options over the last few months which is why I was excited to try these recipes. Although the recipes aren’t dairy free, I was able to swap out some ingredients and the food still tasted good. I tried the fluffy pancakes (I’ve really been missing pancakes and waffles) and the granola bars; they were simple to make and the ingredients were easy enough to find. My only gripe is making the flour for these recipes is a bit excessive. However, overall I feel like this book provides a good variety of options for homemade meals and snacks that could be useful for personal as well as family meals.

This book is a great resource with lots of easy ways to make recipes gluten free. Many times gluten free cookbooks have hard ingredients to find but this book was quite accesible!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

This beautiful cookbook gives some hope to people who are gluten free. I was diagnosed as intolerant and immediately cut gluten out of my diet. While I started to feel so much better, there were a lot of things I really missed eating. These alternatives are perfect. The directions are easy to follow. The information is great. Especially the flour info. The pictures are wonderful. There is a wide range of recipes so there is something for everyone.



A little about me....I’m not Celiac (though I’ve never been tested).

In 2013 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer - here’s a blog I wrote a few years ago which says a bit more about my experience:
https://cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/side-effects-carmela

As part of my treatment plan I was placed on Tamoxifen and it has a lot of side affects and for me it was significant joint pain, exhaustion and brain fog. So after a couple of years of feeling awful I did some research and decided to do a month long elimination diet. Within days I could move easier and did not feel as exhausted. I’m still on Tamoxifen and still gluten free - it was not a fad for  me - it was a wellness choice that made a huge difference!

Thank you to @netgallery for this advanced copy which will be released April, 2021.  There is helpful information about being gluten free, really good recipes and lovely photos in this book. The author Jennifer Fisher is Celiac and has researched her receipes extensively to ensure they work and are beyond tasty.  My only reaction when I saw the baked goods section was a bit too much sugar for me. I would need to reduce that. I love sugar (it’s a problem for me) but I try to reduce where I can. 

#glutenfree
#recipebooks
#breastcancerawareness
#netgallery

( I have not shared this yet I plan to next week on my Instagram Bookscoffeegraitude)
Sent from my iPad

Gorgeous book! America's favorite recipes but gluten free. Breakfast, entrees, breads, desserts, and a lot more. The photos are absolutely gorgeous! A must have cookbook! I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Loved it! Gluten free but all......ALL of the pictures in this book are gorgeous! I notated a few recipes that I am going to love to make! So great cover! Loved the description... you had me at gluten free!

   What did I like? Ever feel poorly after eating and just wonder if it was something you ate? Gluten is a hard food to digest so cutting it out of your diet may help you feel better. This author gives you some amazing looking recipes to try to eliminate gluten foods. I bookmarked pretty much the whole book! Thanks so much for the combination flour recipe also!

   Would I recommend or buy? Yes to both! Even if your not allergic to gluten it is still hard to digest. Adding some of these recipes looks easy and inviting! Love the pictures and the information provided! Five stars!

   I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!

This cookbook contains a lot of family friendly recipes that would be familiar to many Americans, such as pizza, breads, cookies, and much more. The author also has a good range of gluten-free flour being used in this cookbook (including my personal favorite, sorghum), and lists three flour blends that she uses almost exclusively in the recipes. I was a little thrown off by how many meat main dish recipes are in the book, considering the majority of them didn’t contain gluten to begin with, so there’s nothing to transform. But for someone who’s just beginning their gluten-free journey and would like some familiar comfort food this book delivers.

Thank you to NetGalley & DK for this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I am always on the hunt for new GF recipes and I cannot wait to try some of these. 

Having been gluten-free (by necessity) for over 10 years, there are just some things that I still crave and haven't been able to find a remotely decent GF substitute. Jennifer Fisher gives me hope that I can finally have donuts! and fish n' chips again!!!! I'm so excited. You have no idea. 

The photography is beautiful and quite delicious looking. Some of the recipes and food ideas are things that I've already thought up and mastered,  but sometimes you just don't have enough time and patience to try out every single flour and leavening blend to create the perfect gluten substitute. As I already said, I am beyond thrilled to try some of these recipes.

Whether you are new to the gluten-free game or an older hat like me, there are recipes for all and easy-looking instructions for all. I would definitely recommend  Surprise! It's Gluten Free! for anyone in the gluten free lifestyle!

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Date reviewed/posted: February 17, 2021
Publication date: April 13, 2021

When life for the entire galaxy and planet has turned on its end, you are continuing to #maskup and #lockdown to be in #COVID19 #socialisolation as the #secondwave is upon us, AND it is a loverly minus 26 degrees, snowy and icy where I am currently stuck living, so superspeed readers like me can read 300+ pages/hour, so yes, I have read the book … and many more today.

I requested and received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley, the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review.  

From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸.

Over 100 gluten-free recipes that will fool even the most finicky taste buds

Finally, there's good news for people with gluten sensitivity and celiac disease: they can have their cake and eat it, too! If you crave cookies, cakes, pizzas, and everything in between, but you’re overwhelmed by the task of gluten-free baking and dissatisfied with the store-bought stuff, then Surprise! It’s Gluten-Free! is your new best friend.

Confectionary mastermind Jennifer Fisher is here to help you stock your kitchen with all the goodies you miss, and then some. Steeped with comfort foods, special-occasion treats, holiday specialties, and everyday staples, this book allows everyone at the table to continue eating the foods they love.

The twist no one saw coming? It’s gluten-free!

• Three exclusive options for homemade all-purpose flour blends—meticulously tested mixes of rice flours and other allergy-friendly starches—are the secret foundation for all of the perfectly textured gluten-free goods you’ll be whipping up.
• Delicious entrées, pizzas, sides, breakfasts, breads, cookies, cakes, pastries, and pies—family-approved options for every occasion.
• Insider techniques and secret ingredients for making creamy and thick sauces, crispy and browned proteins and veggies, and light, airy, and structured baked goods—all without touching a single grain of wheat!

I happen to freaking love gluten and do not understand why anyone who is not celiac would give it up, but to each their own. We also have an adorable ceiliac in my family so we all workaround our loved one's serious condition and I have already ordered this book for her personal use. The recipes are well written and understandable by cooks and bakers of all levels and the photos make the food very appealing to myself and other lovers of food (and gluten) out there. I especially like the All-purpose flour mixes that I can premake and have in storage for when E. is coming over.

What I especially love about the book is that it uses mostly whole ingredients instead of pre-prepared and packaged foods. I do draw the line at making my own cheese beyond a quickly-made mozzarella, and canning tomatoes but the more "ingredients" you use the better.  My one nephew says that I never have any food in my house, only ingredients --- that is why I cook so much. I also refuse to eat or cook with Frankenfoods such as "chick'n" and its 88 ingredients vs. 🐔chicken🐔 having one!)

As always, I try to find a reason to not rate with stars as I simply adore emojis (outside of their incessant use by "🙏-ed Social Influencer Millennials/#BachelorNation survivors/Tik-Tok and YouTube  Millionaires/snowflakes / literally-like-overusers etc. " on Instagram and Twitter... Get a real job, people!) so let's give it 🥧🧁🍪🍩🥯

Scrumptious! I can genuinely sum up this review in that one word. There are so many scrumptious gluten free recipes ranging from breakfast foods to main courses to dessert that it will take me a year to try them all out. The photos accompanying the recipes are mouth-watering. This is a gluten-free recipe every gluten free baker can appreciate!

As a baker and cook with celiac disease I am on a constant quest to discover new gluten free cookbooks and information and naturally wanted to check this one out.  At first my freezer was full of 17 (yes, 17) gluten free flours but then my favourites became clear, many of which appear in this book.  The author describes several flours and binders as well and shares her flour blends which is always so useful.  The Ancient Grain Flour Blend is intriguing with the addition of teff.  You will also find tips and troubleshooting.  

Gluten free baking is like a different world so don't expect it to be like regular baking.  That was one of the biggest mistakes I made when first diagnosed...tears flowed when baking my first GF bread.  Instead of kneading soft gluten bread dough I scooped and smoothed the gluten free batter into a pan.  I mourned what was I was desperately missing.  But thankfully expectations change and new discoveries are made.  And most cooking recipes can so easily become GF.  

This book is comprised of homey favourites with very simple ingredients and recipes.  Though I did not find anything new here the photography is mouthwatering and the recipes are solid and comforting, a fabulous book especially for those new to the gluten free lifestyle.

From this book my first recipes to try will include Grandma Helen's Cinnamon Rolls, Garlic Butter Naan, Ancient Grain Sandwich Bread and Taco Soup.  Today is a cinnamon roll kind of day so that is what I will start with.  The very descriptions are soul warming!

My sincere thank you to DK and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reading (and baking from!) this lovely book!

This is a fantastic cookbook! It’s easy to follow and the pictures are beautiful. The family anecdotes are a fun touch, as are the family photographs. The recipes are all fantastic and contain common ingredients! I love that the author incorporated old family favorites in the gluten free format for those of us who miss them. The author breaks down the ingredients and why she uses them in an easy to understand way. This is a wonderful cookbook and one I will be turning to over and over again! It’s the new staple in my kitchen. My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.