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Extra Virgin Kitchen
For a fraction of the price of a GP appointment, this book will help you to embark on your own journey to glowing health.
When Sunday Independent food writer Susan Jane White was told to stay away from wheat, dairy and refined sugar due to intolerances, her food future seemed bleak, bland and boring. So, drawing on her gastronomic background, she created seriously tasty recipes that didn't compromise her health. The result? Susan's energy levels went through the roof and her friends and family began to look for her 'free-from' recipes whether or not they had intolerances.
In this book is a collection of Susan Jane's most loved recipes. Dishes like Maple Cardamom Peaches, Bond Girl Salad and Banana Toffee Ice Cream, all so full of flavour that you would never believe they are 'free from' anything.
When Sunday Independent food writer Susan Jane White was told to stay away from wheat, dairy and refined sugar due to intolerances, her food future seemed bleak, bland and boring. So, drawing on her gastronomic background, she created seriously tasty recipes that didn't compromise her health. The result? Susan's energy levels went through the roof and her friends and family began to look for her 'free-from' recipes whether or not they had intolerances.
In this book is a collection of Susan Jane's most loved recipes. Dishes like Maple Cardamom Peaches, Bond Girl Salad and Banana Toffee Ice Cream, all so full of flavour that you would never believe they are 'free from' anything.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2014
19 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Susan Jane White
6 books4 followersSusan Jane White is a specialist cook, food columnist with The Sunday Independent, former president of Oxford University's Gastronomy Society and popular broadcaster on healthy eating.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 27, 2017
This is such a fun, quirky, sassy cookbook. The author, Susan Jane White, has a witty voice that shines through. Susan went from being super unhealthy and unwell to a new healthy eating lifestyle that allowed her to thrive. Susan gives a glimpse into her life before and after healthy food turned her struggles around.
The cookbook begins with a very thorough question and answer section that gives complete answers to all of your burning questions. The author goes into extensive detail to help you prepare for your new healthy eating and healthy cooking lifestyle.
Next is a great section that describes the kitchen artillery required to make the recipes in the book. She gives lengthy descriptions of what each tool is for and how you will use it. It is a great culinary lesson on the tools available to you and why you might want them.
The recipes are full of healthy ingredients and simple to make. I love a recipe that doesn't take pages of instructions to complete! These recipes are tasty to make ahead and freeze to have healthy options on-hand all the time.
"I swear you won't miss your breakfast cereal and milk. In fact, I bet you'll look back on your favorite cereal packet like a bad ex and wonder what on earth you ever saw in it."
The only complaint I have with this book is that for me most of the recipes have too much natural sugar in them. If you are coming from a Standard American Diet and looking for a way to eat healthier, this won't be an issue for you. Likely with the SAD lifestyle you are consuming far more sugar than is in these recipes. I follow a lower carbohydrate, gluten-free lifestyle and try to stay away from the high sugar fruits and syrups used in the breakfast, snack and dessert recipes.
The book concludes with an excellent reading list and list of online resources to shop at. The shops are a mix of US and UK sites. The author is very honest through out the book that the ingredients in the recipes aren't your run of the mill stuff found on every grocery aisle. You may have to search some of these ingredients out or order them online, but the payoff of a healthy lifestyle is well worth it!
The cookbook begins with a very thorough question and answer section that gives complete answers to all of your burning questions. The author goes into extensive detail to help you prepare for your new healthy eating and healthy cooking lifestyle.
Next is a great section that describes the kitchen artillery required to make the recipes in the book. She gives lengthy descriptions of what each tool is for and how you will use it. It is a great culinary lesson on the tools available to you and why you might want them.
The recipes are full of healthy ingredients and simple to make. I love a recipe that doesn't take pages of instructions to complete! These recipes are tasty to make ahead and freeze to have healthy options on-hand all the time.
"I swear you won't miss your breakfast cereal and milk. In fact, I bet you'll look back on your favorite cereal packet like a bad ex and wonder what on earth you ever saw in it."
The only complaint I have with this book is that for me most of the recipes have too much natural sugar in them. If you are coming from a Standard American Diet and looking for a way to eat healthier, this won't be an issue for you. Likely with the SAD lifestyle you are consuming far more sugar than is in these recipes. I follow a lower carbohydrate, gluten-free lifestyle and try to stay away from the high sugar fruits and syrups used in the breakfast, snack and dessert recipes.
The book concludes with an excellent reading list and list of online resources to shop at. The shops are a mix of US and UK sites. The author is very honest through out the book that the ingredients in the recipes aren't your run of the mill stuff found on every grocery aisle. You may have to search some of these ingredients out or order them online, but the payoff of a healthy lifestyle is well worth it!
December 7, 2018
This book is perhaps better suited for people with certain food intolerances that are severe. I bought it to add some healthier dishes to my diet.
Quite frankly, most of the ingredients are not readily available to me and even if they were, I probably couldn’t afford them very often. Maldon sea salt flakes? Salt is salt.
Quite frankly, most of the ingredients are not readily available to me and even if they were, I probably couldn’t afford them very often. Maldon sea salt flakes? Salt is salt.
May 13, 2019
there were several things in this book that confused and irritated me. but a couple of recipes that intrigued me, as well.
February 21, 2022
Every recipe is fantastic! Borrowed from the library and immediately purchased a copy to keep.
August 23, 2016
I've a mixed opinion on this one. When Susan says it's the only granola recipe you'll ever need, I have to admit she's right. I've tried more than 20 granola recipes since kicking processed sugar and the one in this book is the one I always come back to as my favourite.
She has lots of recipes that I can't wait to try, however the one negative that catches me out is there is always something in the ingredients that I don't have or that's a bit too extravagant to justify for a midweek snack recipe. It's a great book for trying new things, but wouldn't be one you'd pull out every night for a quick dinner fix. I still have the best of intentions to try all these recipes... when I can manage to get myself to a health food store and justify the investment in probiotics and coconut sugar.
She has lots of recipes that I can't wait to try, however the one negative that catches me out is there is always something in the ingredients that I don't have or that's a bit too extravagant to justify for a midweek snack recipe. It's a great book for trying new things, but wouldn't be one you'd pull out every night for a quick dinner fix. I still have the best of intentions to try all these recipes... when I can manage to get myself to a health food store and justify the investment in probiotics and coconut sugar.
April 3, 2018
Reduced the rating on this book because in reality, having owned the book for some time, it has never been that easy to find simple, everyday recipes that I actually use. Nicely presented but not one of my go-to recipe books.
November 23, 2014
Great resource for those of us working hard to maintain a wheat-free, sugar-free lifestyle.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews