Table of Contents
Dedicated to Carol Dudley
In memory of Richard Berthiaume
foreword
Gluten-free, vegan, AND comfort foodone might think that these are mutually exclusive! Well, wait until you begin trying some of these recipes.
As a nurse and nutrition consultant, I could have used a cookbook like this all the years I have been counseling patients to remove gluten and dairythe hidden sources of food intolerance and health problemsfrom their diets. It would have made my life much easier. In the past few years, there has been a burgeoning amount of gluten-free selections (foods that are free of the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley) on menus and in supermarkets. However, these foods do not taste like Susan OBriens gluten-free foods, especially as her recipes use healthier sweeteners like maple syrup.
As the years go by, I have really begun to understand how important it is for my patients to still be able to indulge in comfort foods. Lets face it, no one wants to give up lasagna or chocolate! Yet all the recipes (and the packaged foods we find in grocery stores) for our favorite foods often contain gluten and/or dairy. Ill admit, I found it hard to imagine Sue coming up with 125 delicious recipes that fit the bill.
Then I tried her recipesthey were beyond what I thought gluten-free, vegan foods could taste like! I also was very pleased to see some new ingredients offered in her book. Chia seeds (high in healthy omega-3 fats), coconut oil, and coconut milk are foods that many of us hadnt cooked with much before. In fact, many people think that coconut is unhealthy. Nothing could be further from the truth! Coconut has many benefits, which Sue discusses in this books Introduction. Read the Introduction carefully because you will learn a lot about the health benefits of foods that you may not have been aware of.
People who follow a traditional vegetarian diet often eat quite a lot of foods containing gluten and dairy. But those who avoid dairy, gluten, and animal products often notice that they feel better in general, that their energy is higher, and that they are experiencing fewer digestive problems and joint aches.
So, you are not 100 percent vegan or vegetarian? Or you dont usually avoid dairy, gluten, or eggs? This matters notyoull still love these recipes. Its healthy to rotate your diet so that you dont eat the same foods every day; in fact, research suggests that it is healthy to eat a vegetarian/meatless meal several times a week or more. These recipes make this so easy to do.
Its time to start your journey to better health, while enjoying yourself along the way. Thank you, Sue!
Barb Schlitz, RN, MS
Nutrition Consultant
introduction
Many of my readers wrote to me and asked me to develop a sequel to The Gluten-Free Vegan. I heard over and over again how many of you longed for gluten-free, vegan recipes for your favorite foods. So I responded resolutely... yes! This cookbook contains many easy-to-make comfort foods that you will love, all free of gluten, dairy, eggs, and animal products.
You are not going to believe the fun you will have with the delicious recipes in this cookbook! From the black bean burgers to the peanut butter and chocolate chiprice cereal treats, this cookbook is full of mouthwatering recipes. Some of my favorites include Roasted Beet Risotto; Vegetable Potpie; Chocolate, Zucchini, and Apple Bread; Pumpkin Waffles; Best Banana and Chocolate Chip Cookies; and... I could go on and on. The recipes are made with fresh herbs and spices and will delight even the most finicky person in your house. No matter where you live, or what time of year it is, you will be able to enjoy wholesome, delicious foods!
We all crave certain foods. At times, we want a meal or dessert that is quick and easy to fix and at other times, we want something that nourishes us. These 125 recipes will satisfy your desire for feel-good foods and at the same time, they will support your wellness. Some of the recipes are super-easy to make, such as the Layered Polenta or the Mac and Cheese. Others take a bit more time, but are worth the wait!
With Gluten-Free Vegan Comfort Food, I have endeavored to develop a cookbook that fulfills your culinary and nutritional needs. Besides requests for new recipes, many of you have also asked me to develop recipes free of soy, or to eliminate agave cactus nectar as my primary sweetener because of concerns about how it is processed. Some of you have asked that I use only ingredients that are affordable and available at your everyday market.
I have reduced the amount of agave I use in the recipes, integrated organic maple syrup, and explored new sugar alternatives, such as coconut palm sugar. Yes, coconut palm sugar is a bit more expensive, but if you buy it online in bulk it significantly reduces the cost. (Using it in combination with maple syrup also enables you to use less).
I have reduced the number of recipes made with soy and branched out into the world of chia seeds! I love these seeds as they can be used in place of an egg in a recipe, as a thickener for sauces, or as a source of protein in smoothies or soups.
I know you must be wondering if the chia seeds I am referring to are the same Chia Pet seeds that many of us watered as kids and watched sprout hair on clay rabbits or dogs and the answer is, Yes, they are the same seeds! The nutritional value in these seeds will knock your socks off. Ill tell you more about them later in the book, in the section on ingredients.
I hope this cookbook will inspire you to be creative. I have always said that my recipes are a starting place for you. My testers provided helpful input that I used to make these recipes even better, but there are endless ways to alter dishes, add to them, or use what you have available in your kitchen. Please do not feel like you must have all of the same veggies in a recipe. If you are missing carrots, use broccoli. If you dont have mushrooms, leave them out. Use what you have and what you lovebe creative and explore new options that you havent previously considered. That said, please be careful to read the whole ingredient list before you begin a specific recipe. Several of the recipes include tree nuts or peanuts and some of you may have nut allergies. I highly recommend a read-through so you dont get halfway into a recipe to find out that it has an ingredient that will not be good for your personal health, or that you dont have in the house. Its quite annoying to have to run to the market for a single ingredient!
This book was created with love and pure intention. If you put that into every recipe you make, you will not only enjoy each meal you prepare, but you will derive energy from the foods that will support your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
My very best wishes to you all,
about the ingredients
Whats New?
With Gluten-Free Vegan Comfort Food, I have added some new ingredients to my recipes, and I have also changed some of the ingredients I have used in previous cookbooks. Lets take a look at whats new in this cookbook.
Tempeh
