Cooking Recipes: Stay Healthy with Gluten Free or Diabetic Recipes
By Cecelia Donelson
Publisher:  Speedy Publishing Books
Retail Price:  $8.48 (Amazon Prime, Paperback)

Book Description:  Cooking Recipes Stay Healthy with Gluten Free or Diabetic Recipes The Cooking Recipes cookbook contains recipes specifically for those who suffer with diabetes OR for those who suffer with gluten intolerances and allergies.

These recipes are for anyone who wants to eat healthier too. Eating healthy is one of the best aids in weight loss and weight maintenance. The recipes in this cookbook help to support effective weight loss as well. There are sections within the book covering recipes for all the meals and snacks for the day. A comprehensive resource section contains nutrition information, introductions to the sections explaining what each diet consists of and how to work with the diet for best results.

The first section of the cookbook is about diabetic recipes. Five sections contain recipes set for main entrees, soups, side dishes, breakfast, and even desserts. There is a sample 5 day menu and a complete diabetic recipe nutrition information appendix. Inside you will find delicious recipes such as Roman-Style Cod with Vegetables and Olives, Black Bean Soup, Baked Zucchini Sticks, Baked Apple Pancakes and a decadent Banana – Rum Cake. Being diabetic does not mean going without great tasting recipes. This book contains enough diabetic recipes to cover more than a week’s worth of meal plans.

The gluten free section half contains three major sections. The first section talks about how gluten free is a healthy diet – by chance or by choice. It details what it means to be gluten free and contains a few recipes such as a Curried Chicken and Mango Summer Salad and a Cheesy Mexican Chicken. The “Healthy Challenges In Our World” section details on how to snack and incorporate vegetables and fruits into our snacks. Recipes include a Raw Salsa and a Hot and Spicy Chicken Wings plus more. The final section is all about Gluten Free Desserts with recipes like a chocolate fondue dessert and tops on eating out at restaurants and continuing with this lifestyle.

Book Review:

I am neither diabetic nor am I on a gluten free diet. I am, however, on a quest to eat healthy – and that is what set this cookbook apart from many others I’ve read. I also have MS, which makes a difference in how I eat now and prior to my diagnosis. If I can control one or two aspects of this disease, just by eating healthy, I will do it. It definitely makes a difference in my daily symptoms and I’m all in, if that’s the case.

I refuse to review a cookbook without making one or two of the recipes in the book. For “Cooking Recipes”, I made two recipes – and have many more I plan to make in the near future! The first divine delight that crossed my lips was “Stuffed Turkey Breasts.” Truth? The dried cranberries MADE this dish. I love turkey cooked most anyway but this was Thanksgiving in my mouth without it being Novembert! Then I decided to try a dessert – “Baked Apples.” The finished product was pure bliss. When you take a bite, you have to close your eyes just to close off your other senses so you can truly taste all of the flavors melded together. Great cookbook and I look forward to making many more of the recipes in the future!

~TK Harrison