I am so honored to have been given the opportunity to review Carrie Vitt’s new book, The Grain-Free Family Table! Honored and grateful. Carrie’s story of healing her autoimmune disease through food inspired me to take action to heal my own. You see, her story penetrated so deep as she and I have (or in Carrie’s case had) Hashimotos thyroiditis. During the last few days in October, I reached out to the same nutritional therapy practitioners Carrie worked with to heal. And since November 1st, I have completely eliminated grains to reset my body and begin healing. All I can say is I feel SO. MUCH. BETTER. My joint pain has dissipated, I have more energy, my moods are better, and I am much less foggy. The best part? I know there are many more benefits to follow! I will share more about my journey to heal in later posts.
For now, I am celebrating this book! Since I received this book, it has been my cooking Bible. It is full of useful information on how to not only easily sustain this lifestyle, but to enjoy it fully! I love this excerpt from the Introduction in her book:
“If you are like most people, the thought of cooking without grains seems impossible at first. No bread? No rice? No pasta? What’s left? The truth is you can still have grain-free versions of these foods if you want. But once you learn to look beyond the typical American dinner plate, you’ll be amazed at the delicious variety of foods available to you. And…”
I had the same thoughts, even though I was gluten free for a few years, I thought, No rice?!? Carrie is right, I do feel so good and I am not missing a thing. I am confident with Carrie’s book, I can enjoy many of those ‘traditional’ foods if I choose, but the grain-free way. The way that works with my body, not against it.
Carrie’s book is full of family-friendly recipes that you can use to embark on this health changing lifestyle for you and your entire family. She went even further and has included resources so you know where to turn for things like: where to buy pastured meats, which almond flour is the best, how to save money through sites with great deals, and some of the science behind ‘why’ grain free as well as plenty of encouragement. You can accomplish this and gain your complete health back.
Let me tell you, if you can have these lovely little Apricot Pecan Cookies from The Grain-Free Family Table, anyone can do this! They are so delightful! Once I received my book in the mail, I went right for this recipe to test them out and share them with my family. With the holidays approaching, these are a perfect choice for a clean, grain-free treat! I think the hardest part might have been letting them cool for 15 minutes while the divine smell filled our home.
Carrie shares in her book that, “the best part is that you can freeze the dough after it’s been scooped into dough balls and bake the cookies straight from the freezer – just add 3 minutes to the baking time.” I tried this, and it worked perfectly. My boys love warm cookies out of the oven, so having the option to bake them on an as needed (um, or demanded :)) basis is a good thing!
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 12 3 inch cookies | 15 minutes |
| Cook Time | Passive Time |
| 11-12 minutes | 15 minutes |
|
|
|
|
Excerpt from The Grain-Free Family Table -
"My mom is famous for the cookie dough she sells at her shop in Dallas, The Festive Kitchen, and my all-time favorite is the apricot, oatmeal, and pecan cookie dough. With this grain-free version, I get to indulge in my favorite cookie again. The best part is that you can freeze the dough after it’s been scooped into dough balls and bake the cookies straight from the freezer—just add about 3 minutes to the baking time. During the holidays I make the dough weeks in advance and pop the cookies into the oven as soon as my guests arrive, filling the house with that fresh-baked cookie smell."
|
- 2 cups Almond Flour Blanched
- 2 tbsp Coconut Flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp Unflavored Grass-Fed Gelatin I used Great Lakes Brand
- 1/2 tsp Celtic Sea
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 6 tbsp Unsalted Butter melted, grass-fed preferred
- 1/4 cup Raw Honey
- 2 tbsp Almond Butter
- 1 tbsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 cup Pecans chopped, soaked and dehydrated
- 1/4 cup Dried Apricots chopped, I used Made in Nature organic
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and adjust the rack to the middle position. Line a baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.
- Place the almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, gelatin, salt, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine. Place the butter, honey, and almond butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and let the butter melt, stirring occasionally. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture, add the vanilla, and stir until combined. Stir in the pecans and apricots.
- Using a 2-inch cookie scoop, scoop the dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Using your fingers, gently press each dough ball until you have a 3-inch round. Bake for 11 to 12 min¬utes, or until the cookies are just turning golden brown on the edges. Cool for 15 minutes before serving. Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Image used with permission from Harper Collins Publishers.
PALEO/DAIRY-FREE ADAPTATION: Use 5 tablespoons coconut oil plus 1 tablespoon water in place of the butter.
NOTE: If you’d like to freeze the cookie dough, simply scoop all of the dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with unbleached parchment paper. Freeze the tray for 2 hours, or until the dough balls are firm. Transfer the dough balls to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Alright – now how about that giveaway?!? Check out the end of the post for a chance to win The Grain-Free Family Table – courtesy of the book’s publishers William Morrow of HarperCollins Publishers. I highly suggest stopping by Carrie Vitt’s blog, Deliciously Organic. I am sure you will love it just as much as I did!
The Grain-Free Family Table Cookbook
Contest Rules & Disclaimer
Follow Carrie on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.
Then follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.
Must be a US resident. Must provide a valid email address. Must be 18 years of age or older.
Contest closes November 30th, so enter today!
Book provided by the publishers at HarperCollins.
Disclosure: HarperCollins sent me a complimentary copy of the cookbook to review and are providing one for my readers for the giveaway. All opinions about the cookbook are authentically my own.
Sending my best you and yours!
In health ~ Sarah
Natalie
Sarah,
Thank you so much for this review. I googled reviews of Carrie’s new cookbook and came accross your great blog. Very inspiring, real and right where I am at. Thank you! I also very recently went grain free (November as well) and am shocked at how great I feel. My days with my 2 1/2 year old are so much “clearer” and brighter. Thank you!
Natalie
Sarah Post author
Natalie,
Thanks for stopping by and thank you for your kind words! It sounds like we have a lot in common 🙂 I like what you said about your days with your 2 1/2 year old being “clearer” and brighter – well said! The fog is lifting and there is hope for us to feel good all the time. I don’t want to ‘make’ anyone try this way of living/eating, but I too am completely amazed at how much better I feel. I just want everyone to feel this good! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Natalie
Has the winner been chosen?
Sarah Post author
Hi Natalie! Sorry – yes, the winner was chosen. I am sorry, I should have posted on here or FB. I emailed the winner. I think it might be on sale right now on Amazon. Hope you are doing well!
Pingback: Slow Cooker Sausage Breakfast Casserole (Grain-Free)