VOTED #2 .INFO WEBSITE IN THE WORLD!
Author Mary Capone teaches us fine classic Italian dishes from her roots in the Italian Countryside.
Upon reading The Gluten-Free Italian Cookbook, I felt a sense of warmth from the author as she opened her heart and the doors to her “world”—her past, her family, and her heritage. Mary grew up in New York in the kitchen and around an Italian table with family meals being the excitement of the day. Platters of food adorned the table, and laughter and love, which was in every dish.
Mary’s travels in Europe after college brought her to her roots, her love—Italy. Crossing the border she knew instantly she was at home. When she returned to her father’s village, she was taught the secrets of simple Southern Italian cuisine, which she brought back to the States, opening “Marie’s Crêpes”—European crêpes made to order.
Mary started having signs of an auto-immune disease shared by her grandmother, who eventually died from the disease. Mary was told it was genetic and nothing could be done. She spent years searching for solutions. As with many celiacs, she finally diagnosed herself, had the blood test performed, and it was confirmed. She had celiac disease. She began to regain her health as she began eating gluten-free.
The gluten-rich diet of her ancestors was her new nemesis. Rather than looking at all she must avoid, she yearned for recreating those lovely dishes in a cuisine she could eat—one by one. The transformation evolved in her own kitchen as she created healthy gluten-free alternatives.
In 2005, with a recipe book full of one-of-a-kind dishes exuding the flavor, aroma, and love of Italian food, Mary opened the Wheat-Free Gourmet Cooking School in Boulder, Colorado. The spirit and joy in her cooking school is what inspired her to share her recipes with the gluten-free community.
Each of Mary’s recipes has a concise yet personal prelude setting a lovely scene for the forthcoming dish. Each story reflects on the pleasure and love she imparts now to the reader. Not only is this a cookbook you’ll treasure and have on your shelves to use for years to come, it is a story, a life story Mary shares openly. Her personality shines through—a peaceful, artistic culinary soul. I for one feel as if I made a friend, by owning this book alone.
The dishes in The Gluten-free Italian Cookbook are nutritious, earthy, truly Italian, and bursting with flavor. I get a sense of the aromas just reading the recipes. Each one offers a dairy-free version simply explained and well-tested. She has vegetarian options as well. Many beautiful photographs accompany the book as well as a hint of family, scattered amongst the pages, letting the reader in on her family album.
This is a cookbook devoted primarily to gluten-free Italian meal options, not just desserts. With dishes such as Eggplant Caponata (Caponata di Melanzane), mushrooms and Olive Tapenade Crostini, Aunt Caramel’s Baked Stuffed Artichokes (Carciofi con Pane e Salsiccia), Our Daily Bread, Seafood Pizza and Mary’s Traditional Dairy-Free Ricotta, one is never at a loss for a culinary adventure resulting in an aromatic and love-filled meal—from Mary’s heart to yours.
This is one of the most pleasurable “reading” cookbooks I have had the opportunity to have, read, and own. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone looking for a healthy alternative to cooking—simple gluten-free. “Mangiare bene, bere bene e’ vivere bene.” To eat well, to drink well, is to live well. This is how Mary likes to live her life, and shares a part of that living through this cookbook.
I give this book a thumbs up, Mary is a delight and it is HIGHLY recommended by me!
Tina Turbin
www.glutenfreehelp.info
From our home to yours, Tina Turbin
If you have any questions or suggestions just email me at info (at) GlutenFreeHelp.info.
Holy moly…mouth is watering just from the front cover alone! This looks FANTASTIC! I absolutely love Italian food. I went crazy for pasta and garlic bread before I was diagnosed as celiac and I don’t feel that I’ve found the right gf alternatives yet even after being on the gf diet for 3 years now. I am totally getting this book!
You have no idea how excited I am about this book! My husband loves Italian food and I just feel that I haven’t been able to recreate Italian gluten-free to his satisfaction. I’ll give it a try. I hope he likes it! I am the one with celiac disease, but he eats a lot of gluten free with me:)
I’m so glad you said “truly Italian” because I’ve tried several Italian cookbooks that seem to be an American trying to make Italian food. Not the same at all as my Great Aunt Josie’s (straight off the boat) cooking!
I took a look at the Amazon reviews for this and they are all very positive. I am so excited to get this cookbook! This find has made my day!
Trudy
I looked far and wide for a good gluten free Italian cookbook when I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2002. It wasn’t until a couple weeks ago, when I got this book, that I was convinced that I finally found the perfect book. Can’t recommend this enough!
Hah! Proof that you can still eat great Italian food even when you’re celiac! It’s the only ethnic food I hear the most complaints about from celiacs, but I tell them they’re just not using the write products and recipes. I encourage everyone to pick this up because it really is a great cookbook!
Check out the good reviews on Amazon! That’s what I rely on when I buy products, the Amazon reviews. Even if I’m not even going to buy the thing at Amazon, but in a store, I still read the reviews looking for the best product of its kind. I have never been steered wrong. So, with that being said, I’m definitely going to order this book because it’s just got to be good!
Wow, seems really perfect. I’ve been trying the different types of ethnic cooking. Anyone know of any gluten free Indian cookbooks?
You can get a signed copy directly from Mary’s website http://www.bellaglutenfree.com.
I got this one for my birthday this year and I haven’t had a chance to use it yet, although it does look great. I have a hard time trying new recipes because I already have a set repertoire. But thanks for featuring this book, as I do believe it’s a worthy one, and I’m not inspired to crack it open and get cooking!
I have ordered this and am SO excited to try this. The author sounds like she really knows what she’s doing with her hands-on experience in Italy. I wish I would’ve gotten a signed copy though. dang! Well, if this is good, I’ll buy one for someone that’s signed for Christmas or something.
My friend has this and says that the desserts are really good in this. I am going to give it a try just to be able to make gluten free versions of my favorite desserts!
This is a good one. I also like The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook: Spicing Up Life with Italian, Asian, and Mexican Recipes and also Gluten Free Baking Classics by Annalise Roberts (this is a classic!).
@Debbie I agree The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook has some great ethnic recipes and I use it a LOT during the month for special gluten free dinners! I look forward to trying this book though because I can always use more Italian recipes!