a TeMPLe of WoRDS

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.

For any of you who follow me or have, at the least, had a conversation with me on reading, you KNOW how obsessed I am with cookbooks - I read and review a lot of 'em. Let me give you a little bit on my background: I grew up with a mother who loved to cook and, for most of my young life, owned a catering company and was a cake designer. She collected cookbooks and I began flipping through the pages before I could even read, then moved on to reading the things the author included with their recipes (my favorite has always been the introductions to each recipe). I took some cake decorating classes with my sister when my nieces were really young (we had so much fun) and I often helped my mom out with the business (baking the cakes, making the icing, preparing the fondant, etc). I went to school for Culinary Arts and would eventually like to have my own bakery. Before I moved here to San Antonio, I had my own cake business. I may not be doing it on a professional basis like I would liked to be, but I still do the occasional baking (it is something that makes me happy and actually calms me) and am always reading and learning more.

This book was a great find. I love sweets, but know that a lot of people have issues with gluten (and, after becoming a vegetarian several years ago, found that with all the healthy eating I was doing, when I ate things like bread, pasta and rice, the gluten in them effected me in a not very nice way). The pictures in this book are beautiful, the sweets look delicious. The authors include lots of information in the book - not just gluten-free recipes, but ways that you can adapt the recipe if you're, say, vegan. There are even "lessons" on decorating and presentation. I tried a few of the recipes included and the results were delicious. If you love to bake and are either trying the gluten-free lifestyle or are already living one, I would definitely suggest getting this book for your bookshelf.