Cooking with Coconut Flour Review

"Cooking with Coconut Flour" - huh? Never heard of coconut flour? It seems odd - flour is made from grains, right? But this is made from a fruit! If you've never had a dish made with coconut flour, it's time you did!

The opening 40 pages of this 160-page paperback cookbook is filled with excellent (and often surprising) information by Bruce Fife, N.D., about coconut flour and its positive health ramifications, including why it can be a welcome alternative for those who cannot tolerate wheat or gluten, or for those who require or desire a low-carb or grain-free manner of eating. (And it's MUCH better tasting than soy flour!) He also includes a very helpful segment on how cooking with coconut flour is different from other flours.

All recipes included in the book use only ingredients that are free of wheat, gluten, soy, trans fat, artificial sweeteners and yeast. Most recipes are also low sugar and low carb. The author explains that most suggested sugars in the recipes are interchangeable with other sugars of your choice; I typically use trehalose or date sugar.

Each of the six recipe chapters in "Cooking with Coconut Flour" is filled with delicious ideas for every meal plus dessert and snacks: Quick Breads, Muffins, Cookies & Crackers, Cakes, Pies & Pastries, and Savory Dishes.

As I mentioned earlier, I do not like kitchen duties (or cleaning or sewing or . . . well, you get the idea), but these are simple, quick, extremely flavorful recipes that are more than worth the effort. I made the Banana Nut Bread today for the first time and loved it. Some of our favorites include Coconut Bread, Bacon Biscuits, Apple Nut Muffins, Pina Colada Muffins, Garlic Cheese Crackers, German Chocolate Cake, Peppermint Cupcakes, and an incredible Chicken & Dumpling Casserole. My taste buds are reacting just remembering how much we enjoy each of those, and more!

Most of the ingredients are typical, and the few unique items used are easy enough to find. Surprisingly small quantities of the coconut flour are needed, but you'll need to have plenty of eggs on hand, as they replace the gluten. Many recipes include multiple flavor variations as well as a low-sugar version.

Whether for health reasons or for fun, "Cooking with Coconut Flour" is a terrific addition to anyone's kitchen book shelf. Coming from someone who is in no way domestically inclined, trust me when I say this is filled with simple and very delicious recipes. And for just $15 (retail price), it's more than worthwhile.