Cherie Mercer Twohy - The I Love Trader Joes Cookbook: 150 Delicious Recipes Using Only Foods from the Worlds Greatest Grocery Store

With Gratitude

First, and always, I am deeply grateful to God and the way He has worked in my life. There have been some interesting twists and turns along the way that I didnt understand at the time, but looking back I can clearly see His fingerprints all over my journey.

To my husband and best friend, Joe, who has always made my happiness, hopes, and dreams as important as his, who has generously given me the complete freedom to do what I love most in life. Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free would have been just a mere thought without his love and support. In the beginning, it was his gratitude for my feeble attempts to cook without wheat or white sugar that sparked a desire in me to succeed no matter what. I love you, Joe. Always and all ways.

To Helen, whos spent countless hours discussing flavor profiles, textures, and baking ratios, and looking at photos over e-mail. You picked up the phone every time I called and generously helped me find my way before there was any hope of a blog or a cookbook. Thank you for all the hours spent mentoring me about everything including relationships, homemaking, careers choices, and my relationship with God. My prayer is that someday Ill be able to do the same for someone else.

To my mom, Sheila, and my dad, Arthur, who instilled in me the importance of being the best I could be, for teaching me about determination and perseverance, and for showing me that achievement comes from consistent, thoughtful effort. Ive inherited Dads love of sweets and Moms insistence on healthier foods, which have been my guiding compass for creating the foods I love most with a healthier twist.

To my Grandma Ruth, who let me sit on the blue stool in her kitchen while she deftly peeled apples and I ate the scraps as she talked to me about how to keep them from browning and showed me how to roll out pie crust and flute the edges. I learned from her how to cook from scratch with a whole lot of love.

To my sister Marcia for her loyal support throughout this project. Shes shared recipes, tested recipes, and given me a new perspective on vegan cooking. For being excited and prodding me forward on days when I wanted to quit and reminding me what my real purpose was to begin with. And, for having the courage to share my work over and over until someone noticed what I was doing.

To Karen Musa for knowing that good food has no limits and graciously welcoming me into your culinary arts program. And, to Chef Michele Brown, for your willingness to stretch and help me learn to bake without taking a bite, for believing that I could succeed when I didnt yet believe it was possible myself.

To the gluten-free online community, I love you. You welcomed me with open arms, included me, and honored my perspective on food. Youve shared with me, laughed with me, supported me, and let me be a part of your life. To all of you, I treasure your friendships.

To the SS&GF readers, youve changed my life and my heart. Im humbled daily by your honesty and insistence on a better life. Thank you for coming back day after day, asking for more, and pushing me to stretch.

And to Ulysses Press, for plucking my blog out of the hundreds of thousands and having enough confidence in my work to put it in print. To Keith, Karma, Lauren, Bryce, and their incredible staff for their patience with a first time author and for putting forth the effort to produce a book that is better than I could have created on my own.

To those whove helped SS&GF along the way, thank you! Alisa Flemming, Alisa Cooks (AlisaCooks. com); Alta Mantsch, Tasty Eats at Home (TastyEatsAtHome.wordpress.com); Elana Amsterdam, Elanas Pantry (ElanasPantry.com); FoodSpring (FoodSpring.com); Glutenista (Glutenista.com); Go Dairy Free (GoDairyFree.org); Jen Caffetry, Gluten-Free Life with Jen (GfreeLife.com); Jenn DiPazza, The Leftover Queen (LeftoverQueen.com); Kalyn Denny, Kalyns Kitchen (KalynsKitchen.blogspot.com); Karina Allrich, Gluten-Free Goddess (GlutenFreeGoddess.blogspot.com); Katie Fox, Simple Organic (SimpleOrganic. net); Katie Kimball, Kitchen Stewardship (KitchenStewardship.com); Maggie Savage, She Let Them Eat Cake (SheLetThemEatCake.com); National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (CeliacCentral.org); Ricki Heller, Diet, Dessert, & Dogs (DietDessertnDogs.com); Shirley Braden, Gluten-Free Easily (GlutenFreeEasily.com); The Gluten-Free Allergy Free Expo (GFAFExpo.com)

Thank you to my blog designer for a gorgeous site and logo! Rhiannon Cunag, 21RubyLane.com

A huge thank you to all who helped test recipes for this book! Ally Massie, akalife4me.wordpress .com;Alta Mantsch, TastyEatsAtHome.wordpress.com; Amanda Struckmeyer, TeamStruckmeyer.blogspot .com; Amelia Byrnes, GlutenFreebiesByMiel.com; Anne Barfield, ChickenParadise.com; Annette Simpson, ElisLunch.wordpress.com; Cara Lyons, CarasCravings.blogspot.com; Carrie Forbes, GingerLemonGirl.com; Cheryl Harris, GfGoodness.com; Colette Donnelly, CuriousWhy.com; Debi Smith, HuntersLyonesse.wordpress.com; Gigi Stweart, GlutenFreeGigi.com; Hallie Klecker, HallieKlecker.com; Heather Thompson, HealthyGrainFreeLiving.blogspot.com; Helen Adams, MizHelensCountryCottage.blogspot.com; Jamie Lynn, CrankyLittleRedHead.blogspot.com; Jenn DiPiazza, LeftOverQueen.com; Jessica Meyer, ATXGlutenFree .wordpress.com; Karen Michika, KarensMeltingAway.tumblr.com; Kari Romo, KariRomo.com; Katrina Morales, GlutenFreeGidget.blogspot.com; Kim Maes, CookItAllergyFree.com; Kristy Hightower, GetFitByPhone .com; Maggie Savage, SheLetThemEatCake.com; Natalie Kimble, TurtleSoupAndMakeItSnappy.blogspot .com; Paula Jones, bellalimento.com; Renee Euler, BeyondRiceAndTofu.com; Ricki Heller, DietDessertnDogs .com; Ruth Clark, TheWay To HisHeart.blogspot.com; Sunny Jones, FreshAndFiesty.blogspot.com; Tia Hain, GlugleGlutenFree.com; Winnie Abrams, HealthyGreenKitchen.com; Aamina Masood; Abigail Brown; Amy Floyd; Ashley Miller; Audrey Clymer; Barb Ryan; Carrie Wood; Christianne Madonna; Christine Sullivan; Deidra Schultz; Diane Bramos; Diane Janowiak; Dixie Duncan Anderson; Edith Russo; Elizabeth Heironimusb; Emily Fisher; Erika Hulings; Erin Gerih; Felicia Saucier; Gail Doughty; Heather Cramer; Heather Middleton; Holly Hill; Janet Hurley; Jean Skeels; Jeanette Reed; Joyce van den Berg; Julia Foster; Julie Bates; Julie Snow; Karah Palmer; Kathleen McDermott; Katie Cassanova; Katie Gredecki; Kelly Ahti; Kelly Dixon; Kim McLaurine; Kristen Overton; Larissa Dodson; Laura Sterrett; Linda Stiles; Linda Wiltrout; Loralie Tidwell; Melody Mayo; Nancy McDonnell; Neveen Hegab; Rose Gulledge; Shelly Hoffman; Sherri White; Stephanie Tsouloufis; Tanja Funk; Zeljka Hassler

Much love and gratitude,
Amy

About the Author

AMY GREEN authors the popular food blog Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free (www.SimplySugarAndGlutenFree.com), where she shares her passion for healthy living. She has abstained from refined sugars and wheat since 2004 and, as a result, is maintaining a 60-plus-pound weight loss. Over the years, Amy has learned that eating healthier doesnt equal deprivation. In addition to owning a small business, Amy is finishing her pastry arts degree at Collin College in Frisco, Texas, and teaches local sugar-free, gluten-free cooking classes. She holds a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters degree in education, both from Ohio State University. Previously, Amy taught elementary school and owned one of the premier pet care companies in the North Dallas area. She lives with her husband and four dogs in Dallas, Texas.

The Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free Kitchen Guide

When baking gluten-free, there are so many different flours available. For my recipes, Ive chosen the ones that Ive found to be the most reliable and produce the best results. Personally, I prefer a blend of flours that arent too starchy. Including some starch, though, is necessary for creating the best overall product. I use Bobs Red Mill products for sorghum flour, garbanzofava bean flour, potato starch (not potato flour!), and occasionally for tapioca starch.