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Paleo Comfort Foods: Homestyle Cooking for a Gluten-Free Kitchen
What if you could cook fantastic meals similar to the heartwarming comfort dishes your grandma used to make...and have them be good for you? In Paleo Comfort Foods , Charles and Julie Mayfield provide you with an arsenal of recipes that are healthy crowd-pleasers, sure to appeal to those following a Paleo, primal, gluten-free, or "real-food" way of life—as well as those who have not yet started down such a path.
Implementing Paleo guidelines and principles in this book (no grains, no gluten, no legumes, no dairy), the Mayfields give you 100+ recipes and full-color photos with entertaining stories throughout. The recipes in Paleo Comfort Foods can help individuals and families alike lose weight, eat healthy, and achieve optimum fitness, making this way of eating sustainable, tasty, and fun.
Implementing Paleo guidelines and principles in this book (no grains, no gluten, no legumes, no dairy), the Mayfields give you 100+ recipes and full-color photos with entertaining stories throughout. The recipes in Paleo Comfort Foods can help individuals and families alike lose weight, eat healthy, and achieve optimum fitness, making this way of eating sustainable, tasty, and fun.
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2011
62 people are currently reading
1721 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 5, 2016
This book is poorly edited and that makes me question the accuracy of the recipes. It started with bad grammar, such as using "your" instead of "you." Soon, ingredients in the instructions were not on the ingredient list (meaning I have no idea how much green onion I am to put in, in addition to the white onion). For some, I suspect the list had one type of ingredient listed and the narrative another. This is fraught with errors that are visible to a non-chef; it makes me question if there are errors in the quantities as well (I sure wouldn't know, then just question what went wrong with a recipe).
My test recipes did not work, save the egg cups. The cauliflower dirty rice was just such a disaster, with the giblets turning downright rubbery from boiling. It just confirmed this book was best returned to the library and not purchased.
Also, the lack of serving numbers (or sizes, I'd be good with sizes) means you must make the recipe, then determine such things and write it in the book before you can use a recipe in menu or party planning. The book is just not well-thought at all.
Yes, the photos of a lot of recipes looked tasty; yes, it was nice having pictures for every recipe. However, what good are pictures with terrible recipes?
And no matter what they say, most Paleo folks do NOT use dairy, so all this butter is troublesome. Similarly alcohol and sugar.
My test recipes did not work, save the egg cups. The cauliflower dirty rice was just such a disaster, with the giblets turning downright rubbery from boiling. It just confirmed this book was best returned to the library and not purchased.
Also, the lack of serving numbers (or sizes, I'd be good with sizes) means you must make the recipe, then determine such things and write it in the book before you can use a recipe in menu or party planning. The book is just not well-thought at all.
Yes, the photos of a lot of recipes looked tasty; yes, it was nice having pictures for every recipe. However, what good are pictures with terrible recipes?
And no matter what they say, most Paleo folks do NOT use dairy, so all this butter is troublesome. Similarly alcohol and sugar.
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January 8, 2013I started skimming through this last night, looking for recipes to try out. I really feel like this should be called Paleo Southern-Style Cooking or something, rather than Comfort Foods, since the author is from the South and basically focuses on Southern recipes. This is not a bad thing, but the title is misleading, since I don't know that most folks consider crawfish, for instance, as a comfort food. I guess, too, when I think of comfort food I think of things like breakfast food, such as french toast, pancakes, hash, homefries, and there's maybe one pancake recipe in here and that's about it.
Anyway, the recipes look good, and I was excited to see one for chicken pot pie included. I don't quite get the point of including recipes for things like tomato salad and salsa, since these could be found in any old cookbook and still be paleo, but I guess it's nice to give folks different options.
I do want to note that Mayfield uses butter for some of her recipes, but many use coconut oil instead. It does make me wonder if coconut oil can be substituted or not for butter in the recipes that require butter for folks who don't do dairy.
Update: We tried the chicken pot pie recipe and it didn't work out very well - not a good crust. Will be looking for other ones.
Also, I'm not really sure what to rate this book since we've only tried one recipe in it so far. I guess I'll just leave the rating blank.
Anyway, the recipes look good, and I was excited to see one for chicken pot pie included. I don't quite get the point of including recipes for things like tomato salad and salsa, since these could be found in any old cookbook and still be paleo, but I guess it's nice to give folks different options.
I do want to note that Mayfield uses butter for some of her recipes, but many use coconut oil instead. It does make me wonder if coconut oil can be substituted or not for butter in the recipes that require butter for folks who don't do dairy.
Update: We tried the chicken pot pie recipe and it didn't work out very well - not a good crust. Will be looking for other ones.
Also, I'm not really sure what to rate this book since we've only tried one recipe in it so far. I guess I'll just leave the rating blank.
May 18, 2012
I loved this book! So far we've made the jambalaya and baked okra with spices, and it was a hit! I can't wait to try everything else. The recipes don't look very difficult and the pictures are mouth watering.
October 28, 2023
This book seemed to suffer a bit of an identity crisis: most interpretations of "Paleo" equate to more than just guten-free but the authors are a little laissez faire about how they define things. There is a lengthy introduction about each co-author (which I totally skipped), plus a short paragraph before every singe recipe about how it was made, which family member requests it, etc.; these added unnecessary clutter to what is a pretty thick book. Readers are here for recipes, people.
Despite the title, this cookbook is pretty comprehensive, going far beyond "comfort foods"-- sides, main dishes, salads, soups-- although comforts like biscuits, fried chicken, and desserts do get some space. However, most of these recipes seem a bit unnecessary; surely anyone embarking on Paleo recognizes they can have salsa, deviled eggs, and roasts-- things which seem too simple to have to include. It felt like the authors were trying to bulk up the page count. For a longer book, I wrote down fewer recipes than I did for Well Fed: Paleo Recipes for People Who Love to Eat. Not recommended.
Despite the title, this cookbook is pretty comprehensive, going far beyond "comfort foods"-- sides, main dishes, salads, soups-- although comforts like biscuits, fried chicken, and desserts do get some space. However, most of these recipes seem a bit unnecessary; surely anyone embarking on Paleo recognizes they can have salsa, deviled eggs, and roasts-- things which seem too simple to have to include. It felt like the authors were trying to bulk up the page count. For a longer book, I wrote down fewer recipes than I did for Well Fed: Paleo Recipes for People Who Love to Eat. Not recommended.
December 11, 2011
Great recipes for those "comfort foods' you sometimes miss on the paleo diet. however, there is SO MUCH reading in the recipes and the ingredient lists are very long. there are very few 'simple' recipes. most of them are very involved which makes them less appealing to make. I WOULD recommend this book for any paleo eater though. It really hits the spot for some of those foods you miss!!!
February 19, 2015
I've tried a few of the recipes and they've turned out well. Love the pictures. However, in some of the pictures you can obviously tell that they used at least one different ingredient than listed in the recipe (mushrooms when there are none listed, red pepper instead of the green pepper listed, etc.) Weird?
March 2, 2018
I was disappointed by this. If you are an experienced cook there is not going to be a lot of new information in here for you. Take your desired recipe, drop the flour, sugar & dairy & you have a Paleo ready recipe. For the novice cook exploring Paleo cooking this is right up your alley.
July 15, 2019
I like to check cookbooks out of the library to give them a trial period before considering a purchase. Not only did my trial recipes not turn out well (How does one mess up coleslaw?), but the real deciding factor was the lack of Recipe Index. I do not want to look up every single beef recipe to find the one that is on meatloaf, if there is one. I'd like to look up "meatloaf." Not a keeper.
June 12, 2017
Read this book a while ago. It's always interesting reading about the paleo movement and the different types of recipes that are available for people who follow the paleo lifestyle. This book in particular focuses on gluten free cooking and paleo.
January 4, 2018
Paleo is already the solution and this ook clarify tyhe way to get through easy paleo steps.
December 29, 2018
Not sure if it's for me..
August 1, 2013
Some of the chit-chat antidotes are too diet-purity-preachy. I should make the lemon squares only once per year because the entire recipe calls for a whopping 1/4 cup of honey? Even the banana pudding came with a "once-in-awhile treat" warning because of the actual bananas (no added sweeteners). I guess I would rather diet / paleo / lifestyle suggestions be contained to their own section of the book rather than intermingling so much with the recipes.
As for the recipes, I wish there was an actual recipe list for optimal organization. Still, though, there are a lot of recipes and all have a big color photo of the final product. I marked 11 pages as ones I wanted to try (which actually isn't bad for me with recipe books!), including chicken & grape salad, squash casserole, and sawmill gravy.
As for the recipes, I wish there was an actual recipe list for optimal organization. Still, though, there are a lot of recipes and all have a big color photo of the final product. I marked 11 pages as ones I wanted to try (which actually isn't bad for me with recipe books!), including chicken & grape salad, squash casserole, and sawmill gravy.
June 26, 2012
I truly enjoyed this friendly view of Paleo cooking and the Paleo attitude behind it. The recipes were easy to understand, easy to follow, and didn't call for very many ingredients I couldn't find in my local supermarket. (Had to order coconut flour online, but that was no big deal.) The recipes I tried have been excellent. The authors offer helpful tips and substitution ideas that make the food easy to fit into your lifestyle and family eating habits.
Although many recipes are not low carb (honey or fruit), most were, which offered my low-carb Paleo lifestyle many choices.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to eat wholesome, whole and natural foods without grains or new-world starches that gum up the body.
Although many recipes are not low carb (honey or fruit), most were, which offered my low-carb Paleo lifestyle many choices.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to eat wholesome, whole and natural foods without grains or new-world starches that gum up the body.
March 14, 2016
The pictures in this book made me hungry...and the recipes were pretty good, too! :) Covering a wide range of dishes, all of them nicely altered to fit the Paleo lifestyle, there really is something here for everyone. And for people like me who are trying to limit non-Paleo meals but are still not willing to eat "weird" food, this is a good match. My favorite recipe so far was the osso buco - the veggie blend in which the meat cooked was amazing! We enjoyed it both that night and again a couple nights later over spaghetti squash. Delicious!
September 27, 2011
Wow, this book is right up my alley - fairly easy recipes that are delicious. It's just as advertised, comfort foods for those of us living the paleo/primal lifestyle. Great for someone like me, who is not much into cooking but likes yummy, familiar food when I do. Definitely a must-buy! Highly recommended!
February 5, 2014
Working my way through the recipes that appeal to me in this book. So far the pumpkin pancakes are a winner. Highly enjoyed the sweet potato hash. My 4 year old loved the olive balls. Love the little anecdotes and side stories. Can't wait to try more recipes! I gifted their over book to a friend. Hopefully she'll share with me?
January 7, 2014
My go to book for comfort food, everything I've made has been more delish than I expected. I love having it on kindle on my phone so those days I go to the grocery store without a clue, I can find something really quick and get the ingredients. My favorites are:
Breakfast Egg Muffins,Ham & Egg Cups,Dry Brined Big Bird,***** Pot of Chicken Pie**** my favorite hands down! and Paleo Mayonnaise.
Breakfast Egg Muffins,Ham & Egg Cups,Dry Brined Big Bird,***** Pot of Chicken Pie**** my favorite hands down! and Paleo Mayonnaise.
October 1, 2012
Didn't wind up using any recipes from it. Some too elaborate - stuffed quail! - some not really our taste. Very Southern US. Learned a bit from it, though. And have found that coconutflour is available here, yay!
December 28, 2012
I really love my copy of Paleo Comfort Foods by Julie & Charles Mayfield. The recipes are excellent, easy to follow and accompanied by gorgeous, mouth-watering photos. Whether you are into Paleo or not, new to Paleo or not, I think you'll find something to your taste.
July 1, 2013
This had some good recipes! I made the fried green tomatoes and they were okay, not amazing, but good enough for a meal. It was nice to see food that I grew up on made in a way that was paleo friendly.
October 3, 2013
My bible for Paleo cooking, especially useful for those seeking Paleo versions of comfort food favorites. Everything I've made from this book has yet to disappoint, the almond bread recipe being a weekly staple.
November 7, 2014
The book is well written and very much needed. The photographs are intoxicating. If you are looking for comfort Paleo food this is the book for you. I however, try to lean more towards the healthier side and indulge a bit less.
January 22, 2015
Unwieldy book; ugly font. Most of the recipes are boring.
I'm sorry, but kale salad and pickled shrimp don't count as comfort foods.
And I'm sorry, but the cavepeople didn't have oil in which to fry things.
I'm sorry, but kale salad and pickled shrimp don't count as comfort foods.
And I'm sorry, but the cavepeople didn't have oil in which to fry things.
November 13, 2011
Great recipes.
November 12, 2011
This is the best Paleo book that I have come across. Most of the recipes are easy and the book is filled with large visually appealing pictures.
May 28, 2014
Great, satisfying recipes, but sloppy in the execution. It's necessary to read closely to realize eggs are to be separated, butter for sauteeing often appears unannounced.
April 13, 2012
Excellent paleo cook book.
June 24, 2012
My favorite of the paleo cookbooks. Liked it so much after reading it from the library, I bought a copy.
June 24, 2012
Great book!
October 15, 2012
The few recipes I have tried are great so far. Big pictures = love (in a cookbook!)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews