by Shauna James Ahern, Daniel Ahern
Wiley, $29.95, 288 pages
The subtitle says it all: “A Love Story with 100 Tempting Recipes.” This very unusual cookbook is a serial love story in which the senior author tells one- or two-page episodes from her life and her relationship with the junior author and husband. These stories and other informative culinary information are woven with recipes throughout, taking up about a quarter of the book.
Since she must be on gluten-free diet, all recipes are gluten-free and not very different from recipes in any good cookbook but ingredients used eliminate flours and grains containing gluten. Nine gluten-free flours and many gluten-free grains take place of the missing items.
The recipes are very good, varied, well written, and a snap to follow with red subheadings outlining each recipe step. The layout is convenient. Most recipes are printed on a single or facing page. Nice quarter-, half- or full-page photo illustrations adorn the volume. Each recipe gives a brief variation on the theme, some with additional suggestions. Informative sidebars are equally helpful. The good subject index is cross referenced, and a Recipe List also helps readers find things quickly. This book is a good addition for anyone on gluten-free diet.