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Family Kitchen
Cooking for Isaiah: Gluten-free Chocolate Cake and a Giveaway
Millions of kids, and their parents, face the challenges that come with food intolerance every day. Recently, a cookbook caught my eye that I hope will help make the lives of these families easier, and bring back the joy and pleasure that food brings to the table.
Cooking for Isaiah as much a love story as a cookbook – it’s the embodiment of Silvana Nardone’s journey to develop delicious meals for her son, Isaiah, when he was diagnosed with severe food intolerances to gluten and dairy. As part of a large Italian family and the owner of a Brooklyn-based Italian bakery, Silvana found herself having to learn how to cook (and bake) all over again – most of her recipes relied heavily on the ingredients that were causing her son pain, so she started from scratch, spending hours in the kitchen and at her grocery store figuring out the exact ingredients necessary to recreate her family’s favorite dishes using entirely new formulas.
Packed with stunning photography, Cooking for Isaiah showcases some of her most successful recipes: Hash Brown Belgian Waffles with Apple Sausage and Fried Eggs, Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Sugar-and-Spiced Doughnuts, Chocolate Birthday Cake with Whipped Chocolate Frosting, Pepperoni Pizza, Oven-Fried Frito Chicken Fingers with Honey- Mustard Dip, and much more.
Throughout its pages, Silvana offers a food substitution chart, making it easier for the reader to adapt their own favorite recipes, while offering new home-tested formulas for classic family foods free of gluten and dairy. She provides recipes for her special ‘flour blend’ and ‘pancake mix’ that she tested and perfected to replace traditional flour-based mixes. Everything has of course been thoroughly tested first-hand by her most important food critic—Isaiah. This is his favorite cake – if he could eat it every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, he says he would. It calls for Silvana’s own gluten-free flour blend – you could also use your own favorite gluten free blend.
Chocolate Birthday Cake with Whipped Chocolate Frosting
by Silvana Nardone, author of Cooking for Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy, Delicious Meals. If you overwhip the chocolate frosting, just add water, a drizzle at a time, to make it glossy and smooth again.
SERVES 12 PREP TIME 30 minutes (plus cooling) COOK TIME 30 minutes
Cake
2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
1 cup boiling water
½ cup cold water
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
½ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups Silvana’s All-Purpose Flour (page 15)
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon saltFrosting:
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1½ cups water1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch (22.5-cm) round cake pans with cooking spray; line the bottoms with parchment paper and grease the paper. To make the cake, in a small bowl, whisk together the espresso powder and boiling water; let cool slightly. Whisk in the cold water, vanilla, oil and eggs.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk the egg mixture into the flour mixture until just combined; divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake until springy to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack.
3. To make the frosting, in a large microwavable bowl, melt together the chocolate chips and water on high power, about 2 minutes; stir until smooth, and let cool to room temperature. With a handheld electric mixer, beat the chocolate mixture on medium-high speed until light and whipped, about 12 minutes.
4. Run a knife around the edges of the pans to release the layers. Invert one cake layer onto a cake plate, flat side facing up. Using an offset spatula or butter knife, spread about 2 cups of the whipped chocolate frosting evenly on top. Invert the remaining cake layer, rounded side up, onto the frosting. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes before slicing.
The above is an excerpt from the book Cooking for Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy, Delicious Meals by Silvana Nardone. Copyright © 2010 Silvana Nardone
And I have a copy of Cooking for Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy Delicious Meals to give away! Leave a comment here, perhaps with suggestions or advice relating to your own experience with a food allergy or intolerance, or link to information others might find useful. I’ll draw a winner at random next Wednesday, September 22nd, at midnight EST.
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Yosha commented on Sep 15 10 at 11:22 amI am new to the gluten free world, I first stepped in out of curiosity and later this turned out to be a plus as I made a couple of gluten free friends. It was so satistfying inviting them to a get together and have them be surprised that yes they can eat more than just the veggies and fruit. In fact everything was gluten free(I wasn’t going to take a chance the first time!) And surprise the non-gluten free people didn’t find a different just a bit of adventure with some dishes (like black bean brownies!) which later became favs.
Anyway my source mostly is the “Gluten Free Girl” – Shauna (I am super excited to see her cook book!) Her website is great and she is great answering questions too.
Other was Heidi at 101cookbooks.com. She has good lists and twist on dishes.
Anyway thank you for highlighting this!
Cheers!
JulieVR commented on Sep 15 10 at 12:15 pmI am SUCH a fan of Shauna – she’s wonderful! Her blog is a jackpot of good reading and information. Another great resource is Lauren from Celiac Teen – celiacteen.com. Great info!
Jennifer Jo commented on Sep 15 10 at 2:08 pmI have no food allergies, but I’d love to have a book available so I can cook for people who do!
Sandy commented on Sep 15 10 at 5:46 pmWould love this book so I can make more things for my wheat-free husband!
Jess Tex commented on Sep 15 10 at 8:00 pmIs the gluten-free flour blend also potato free? We are in the middle of a good trial for my 2.5 year old and he can’t have wheat, oats, and potato… The potato part is making it harder to find baked goods and other recipes.
meeyeehere commented on Sep 15 10 at 11:18 pmThis book might be perfect for me as I am trying to feel my way through my sons milk allergy. He is such a picky eater and with such a sever milk allergy,I find myself worrying all the time about what to do for his meals.
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com
Lisa commented on Sep 15 10 at 11:57 pmI’m only allergic to walnuts, and luckily they’re not necessary in my baked goods. Still, I’d love to have this book since I’m always cooking and baking for other people.
Debbie commented on Sep 16 10 at 1:58 pmThis book would be an awesome addition to my well needed arsenal. I am ALONE on the GLUTEN-FREE side of life in my house. This would give me even more options to cook & bake for the family & they’ll never know it! Thank you for taking the time to write this book and sharing your LOVE with us!!! It means the world to me! <3
Anna@www.tallgrasskitchen.com commented on Sep 16 10 at 11:12 pmWe have been lucky enough to not have any food allergies or intolerances at our house, however, we look to keep everything in moderation. Because of that, we like to cook vegan, or bake gluten-free from time to time to keep everything in balance. This looks like a lovely book!
Mary commented on Sep 17 10 at 12:00 pmBoth of my precious girls were diagnosed with Celiac when they were toddlers. We’ve been gluten-free for 13 years now. They are both in love with baked desserts! We rely heavily on gluten-free mixes mostly, since they are trying to do most of the baking. Every time I notice a new book or cookbook for gluten-free recipes, I’m all over it! We love to experiment and try to find new favorites. I’m hoping once they’re off to college, it will be an easy transiton for them to cook for themselves! We’ll definitely be trying this Chocolate Birthday cake recipe – thanks!
Mary commented on Sep 18 10 at 12:16 amMy nephew is gluten- and dairy-intolerant, and he’s leaving for Afghanistan next month. I’d like to make a cake for him that won’t put him in the hospital.
anja commented on Sep 18 10 at 1:31 pmi have histamin intolerance,so in theory i can eat next to nothing.have found ways to omit the worst ” carriers “,that is bananas, cheese, red wine and chocolate,but i`m still learning.the book looks lovely. best from berlin,anja xx
lindsay commented on Sep 18 10 at 1:58 pmOooh – GF and dairy free! Exciting! I too have had to re-learn how to bake in the last couple of years, also without eggs and soy…I love the challenge of adapting recipes, but oh my, sometimes it’d be lovely to just follow a recipe!
Mar Hein commented on Sep 18 10 at 5:05 pmallergies are a ‘pain’. i have 12 to 13 & then our son has the gluten & honey allergy. good thing i do not have to bake & cook for him. it is enough to do it for me. dairy & beef are the main ones. each recipe gets changed in some way. i use cookbooks & Julie’s book “One Smart Cookie” a lot & only have to change a few recipes for desserts. when it comes to main courses-now that is a challenge in many ways. the Calgary Gluten-Free store has been a huge help! i agree with Lindsay-it would be nice to just follow a recipe! :)
Sandi commented on Sep 18 10 at 5:48 pmI feel very much like Lindsay. I’m constantly trying variations, but I, too, would love to actually have a tested recipe for a change. It might help remove some of the fear and frustration, and if the end result was good, it would be wonderful to be able to duplicate it again.
Sheila Hinds commented on Sep 18 10 at 6:08 pmWe are always looking for gluten free-casin free recipes for my Granddaughter Gabi. Can’t wait to tell my daughter about your book. Hint: We have a copy of “Gluten/Casein Free” grocery shopping guide (Matison and Matison) 2010. Helps to carry when grocery shopping!
marjorie commented on Sep 18 10 at 7:24 pmthis book will be very helpful indeed! i just started a non-dairy diet after having a miscarriage and learning that my fibroids are back. i read that dairy products contribute to fibroid growth. this book will surely provide yummy alternatives to dairy products.
Cathy commented on Sep 18 10 at 9:18 pmI would LOVE this cookbook. My husband is celiac and through trial and error, Celiac Teen (love her!) and Gluten Free Girl have found some amazing recipes. Celiac Teen has the best ever Devil’s Food Cake. I served it to my daughter’s Med School friends and they did not know it was GF!
Christin Maschas commented on Sep 18 10 at 9:25 pmThe book looks great! Getting ready to start a gf/cf diet for my son. This looks like it has kid friendly recipes.
Theresa Wetzel commented on Sep 18 10 at 9:40 pmMy husband cannot eat wheat,rye,barley,& gluten so I started to use brown rice flour, but I don’t have a recipe for the bread without buying a lot of expensive ingredients. I have made yellow squash and zuccini muffins with thebrown rice flour & they turned out good. I didn’t get zuccini this yr. so I just used the summer squash & they were good also.
Kitty commented on Sep 18 10 at 10:03 pmThank you for this recipe, i’d love to get the book. My dad was diagnosed with celiac and i have a low tolerance to gluten, so we are always looking for “good” gluten free foods (being an Italian who loved to eat, dad feels a lot of the gluten free items on the market are just not as tasty, however, when we cook/bake at home they have so much more flavor). this will be a great birthday cake, can’t wait to see the other recipes.
Angie commented on Sep 18 10 at 10:50 pmOur family of 10 loves being gluten, sugar, and dairy free! It has taught has how to eat in a much more healthy way, and to not rely on grains so much. We love to use almond and coconut flours to cook and bake with. The Grain-Free Gourmet cookbooks are also a great addition to the kitchen…
Joan commented on Sep 18 10 at 10:53 pmI love cookbooks and cooking from them. One of my nieces has gluten intolerance. It’d be fun to surprise her with a treat or two from this book.
Mona Henson commented on Sep 18 10 at 10:55 pmMy mother-in-law has a gluten intolerance and has trouble with corn, in addition to having crohn’s disease. Having crohn’s means most fruits and vegetables are cut from her diet, leaving her with very few options. We see her eat the same things day after day while cooking different meals for her husband. She often avoids family functions because they are filled with great smelling foods that she can’t have. I would like to find some recipes that not only she can enjoy, but ones she can share with my father-in-law and the rest of the family.
Polly Pedersen commented on Sep 18 10 at 11:45 pmLooks like a super practical cookbook to help people navigate through the murky waters of cooking for a food sensitive family member. I am recommending this book to my cousin whose 2 1/2 year old daughter is on a gluten free, dairy free diet. Thank you for developing tasty recipes for harried parents!
Alice commented on Sep 19 10 at 1:15 amI’m gluten and dairy free. I was so excited when I first heard of Silvana’s new book and can’t wait to get my own copy! One of the biggest challenges is eating out. When I know I’m going to a restaurant ahead of time, I have found calling ahead and talking to the manager makes it easier for both me and the restaurant!
Eva Gephart commented on Sep 19 10 at 1:32 amI would love to win this cook book to give my family something good to
Eat that would have no side affects for having a intolerance.
Diane Kent commented on Sep 19 10 at 1:50 amI am VERY new to not being able to eat gluten, and at times it is VERY hard to not give in and just eat EVERYTHING. Then i found more and more recipes on this site that is VERY good. It would be sooo exciting to obtain a copy of this book, but if not i still appreciate this site.
Faith commented on Sep 19 10 at 7:22 amThank you for an awesome recipe! I am new to gluten-free baking (but not to gluten-free eating) and excited to be able to serve a home-baked dessert for a change. I look forward to trying more gluten-free recipes. Thank you for sharing your recipes and for offering this give-away.
Erin commented on Sep 19 10 at 9:52 amMy son was diagnosed last year with about 50 food intolerances, including gluten, dairy, peanuts, egg and soy. It is difficult to find foods that he enjoys and won’t destroy our house after eating them. It would be lovely to be able to make him treats from scratch instead of expensive mixes. Hope you find a perfect home for the book!!
Laurie commented on Sep 19 10 at 10:54 amI don’t have gluten issues or dairy intolerances in my immediate family but my best friends do. I love to bake and it would be great to be able to share some tasty baking with them.
Mhiran commented on Sep 19 10 at 12:41 pmMy brother-in-law is a vegan with celiacs as well as an allergy to corn – this would be an amazing addition to the family’s repertoire for our family gatherings!
Karen commented on Sep 19 10 at 2:59 pmI was diagnosed with rectal cancer in April and have since had major surgery to remove the cancer and am now going through Chemo Therapy for 6 months. My Naturopath did some testing, and turns out I’m gluten and dairy intolerant. She said the gluten intolerance could have lead to my cancer. I am finding it extremely hard to adapt removing gluten and dairy from my diet; especially since I’m very fatigued by the Chemotherapy. What I miss the most is a nice soft piece of bread to make a sandwich with. I would dearly love a cookbook that has flour blends so I could make my own gluten free bread. I’m just now starting to find some information on the web, but still haven’t found much to make this transition easier. I’d love to see your cookbook. It sounds like you have the expertise to really put a great cookbook together.
Bobbie commented on Sep 19 10 at 4:14 pmAt age 37 my daughter decided to be her own detective. She stopped eating dairy for a month. She told me that she had never felt so good in her life. She said that research says that you should have SOME dairy, and I forget the why or how much or how often. So, she is now going to cook without dairy. This cookbook may be just the ticket for her. She loves to try new recipes. These would be new, for sure.
Erin commented on Sep 19 10 at 5:12 pmI have 2 friends in particular who have children with severe dairy allergies. I also have many vegan friends. All of which I love to have over and entertain but struggle to find delicious, safe recipes. I would love to try out some tasty new ideas from this book!
Rosemary Gerts commented on Sep 19 10 at 10:40 pmAlthough Ican manage entertaining friends with a gluten allergy, I would be able to bake yummy kids’ stuff for my grandchildren too.
Crystal commented on Sep 19 10 at 11:19 pmMy son is gluten free & has been for 2 years (since he was 2). We have found so many wonderful gluten free recipes on the internet. I also enjoy taking recipes with gluten & experimenting to make them gluten free.
Jessica commented on Sep 19 10 at 11:44 pmI’m trying to stave off my lactose intolerance by drinking milk every day, but it seems like it’s a losing battle. This book would help me a lot!
Trudy commented on Sep 19 10 at 11:54 pmIn his mid-twenties my son discovered that dairy and gluten were the causes of digestive issues for him. This book would be a great addition to the web based research that we both have done searching for recipes and food ideas. Even for those of us who don’t win it is a fun way to hear about this new book and author!
Shawna D. commented on Sep 20 10 at 2:13 amOh my goodness!! I can not believe I just found this article! I WANT THIS BOOK SOOOO BAD!! My 4-year old son, ISAIAH, has severe milk, nut & peanut allergies and gluten free recipes typically work VERY well for us!
I am SO excited! What a coincidence to find a book titled “Cooking for Isaiah” written perfectly for me to get to help me when I am cooking for Isaiah! HeeHeeHee! I love it!!
Karen commented on Sep 20 10 at 3:40 ami have been allergic to eggs my entire life (44 years) and am always happy (and validated) to see people tweak recipes for others’ benefit!
carmen commented on Sep 20 10 at 8:59 amI’d love to win this cookbook. It sounds great! Thanks for sharing :)
Heaven commented on Sep 20 10 at 9:51 amI know a widowed mom whose husband passed away almost five years ago. Her eldest boy, 11 yrs old now, has pretty major allergies to almost everything–dairy, spices, chocolate, red veggies, deep fried things, etc. Her other three kids are starting to show signs of food intolerances as well. In any case, if I got this book I would give it to her, as I’m sure she would find the recipes and even just the ideas very helpful for coming up with original and yummy stuff for her little brood. Thanks for the offer! Heaven
Mandy commented on Sep 20 10 at 11:21 amI’m on a gluten/dairy/sugar free diet right now, and while it’s a big adjustment, I feel alot better, so when this diet is over, I’d lik to incorporate more allergen free food in my life. This book sounds really awesome!
Ellen commented on Sep 20 10 at 11:55 amit’s so wonderful to have gluten free diets more main stream. cookbooks like this make that happen! i’ve only been GF since early June, but it has made a fantastic difference in my life. i would love this book.
Katarina commented on Sep 20 10 at 6:54 pmI am celiac and always look for some new gluten & diary free food ideas(can’t wait to try a cake recipe posted). Thanks!
Amber commented on Sep 21 10 at 12:47 pmJust found out a friend has a lot of new dietary restrictions–I would love to give her this book!
Kathy Bromke commented on Sep 22 10 at 1:43 pmI am looking for a dairy free book containing recipes for my grandson. He will be 3 in the next few days. His older sister, my granddaughter and I have a date each year to make cookies for the holidays for family and friends. This year when we set our date she had a special request …”could we make a cookie for my brother – remember Nana he cannot have milk…” I have been in search and have found several books but this one interested me the most as being very child friendly with recipes that appear to be made with kids in mind. If I receive this book I would keep until my granddaugther is old enough to pass on to and then hopefully she would pass on to her brother as well. thanks.
Laurel commented on Sep 22 10 at 9:47 pmFood can be gluten-free, dairy-free, meet all the dietary requirements and yet be taste-free. I’d love a cookbook that would help me restore that yum factor to my food!
Rachel Jennings commented on Oct 25 10 at 5:47 amI would love a book like this. It doesn’t cover all my son’s food allergies, but I could adapt the recipies to meet his needs. I loved to cook, but put a lot of it in a too hard basket since my sons allergies were diagnosed at 5 months old. I have been buying expensive allergy free brands, but these are getting harder to get hold of not easier. He is now 4.5 years old and I would love to bake yummy goods and cook tasty meals for him as I always imagined I would for my kids. Just knowing a book like this exists and hearing this story inspires me to do more for my son. Thanks Silvana and Isaiah!!
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