Let me start with saying- this review is from the viewpoint of a low carb/keto gal. So many cookbooks just don’t work for me in general. However, often paleo recipes do! Or they can be adapted rather simply. Because- spoiler- I definitely eat excessive amounts of cheese. So what do I think? Keep reading to find out!
This New York Times bestselling cookbook from Danielle Walker, author of Against All Grains and Meals Made Simple, presents 125 recipes for grain-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free comfort food dishes for holidays and special occasions.
When people adopt a new diet for health or personal reasons, they worry most about the parties, holidays, and events with strong food traditions, fearing their fond memories will be lost along with the newly eliminated food groups. After suffering for years with a debilitating autoimmune disease and missing many of these special occasions herself, Danielle Walker has revived the joy that cooking for holidays can bring in Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain Celebrations, a collection of recipes and menus for twelve special occasions throughout the year.
Featuring a variety of birthday cakes, finger foods to serve at a baby or bridal shower, and re-creations of backyard barbecue standards like peach cobbler and corn bread, Danielle includes all of the classics. There’s a full Thanksgiving spread–complete with turkey and stuffing, creamy green bean casserole, and pies–and menus for Christmas dinner; a New Year’s Eve cocktail party and Easter brunch are covered, along with suggestions for beverages and cocktails and the all-important desserts. Recipes can be mixed and matched among the various occasions, and many of the dishes are simple enough for everyday cooking. Stunning full-color photographs of every dish make browsing the pages as delightful as cooking the recipes, and beautiful party images provide approachable and creative entertaining ideas.
Making recipes using unfamiliar ingredients can cause anxiety, and while trying a new menu on a regular weeknight leaves some room for error, the meal simply cannot fail when you have a table full of guests celebrating a special occasion. Danielle has transformed her most cherished family traditions into trustworthy recipes you can feel confident serving, whether you’re hosting a special guest with food allergies, or cooking for a crowd of regular grain-eaters.
Final thoughts? Totally engrossed in this cookbook. I’m deeply invested & involved. The recipes are somehow both unique but approachable. You’ve got everything from mini “corn” dog muffins (p. 143) to blackened salmon (p. 177). She did a great job covering all of the bases without going overboard in any one area. While not kid-centered, there are a lot of adaptable recipes for them as well. As we are a young-ish couple (or so I keep telling myself) I really try to find recipes that can be cut down for only two. This succeeds there as well. For me- this is going on my shelf to keep.
You can purchase Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain Celebrations: A Year of Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Paleo Recipes for Every Occasion Cookbook on Amazon here.
