cbrm-small plates & sweet treats

Small Plates & Sweet Treats by Aran Goyoago begins with the author's move to gluten free cooking. Like many of us, the journey began with weekly doctor appointments. This is followed by a section on ingredients that lists all the different flours, where they come from, and why they are used. An equipment list is also included, but chances are you have what need in your kitchen now, nothing special is required. From there the book is broken up into seasons. I SO appreciate this format. It makes it easy to flip through and find something good to make using ingredients that may be in your fridge or garden right now.

While this book is written for those following a gluten-free diet, this is good food period. Aran notes that the recipes are written using gluten free flours, but they are forgiving and can easily be made with regular all purpose flour. Hurray for everyone!

The "treats" are certainly sweet, but the plates are not necessarily "small". There are many recipes for small appetizer type dishes, but just as many for entree sized family meals, making this a full service cookbook

Pistachio & Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies is the first recipe I tried. Melt in your mouth goodness.

There are many beautiful tarts, both sweet and savory, all with pretty fluted edges. After years of using a basic white tart dish, I was inspired to purchase a fancy tart pan. The day it arrived I used it to make a Chard, Pear, and Gruyere tart. It was delicious!

Apple, Yogurt & Olive Oil Upside-Down Cake

Toasted Parsnip & Apple Soup With Mustard Croutons

Browned Butter-Candid Apple Clafoutis

And Macaroons, many flavors of Macaroons

Heirloom Cherry Tomato Focaccia

I had a very difficult time trying to decide which recipes to showcase. The book is full of SO many good things to eat.

If you plan to take a long vacation in a rental house with an idea to shop from the farmers market and local produce stands, this is the perfect book to take with you (gluten free or not). Even if you just wish you were taking such a trip, the recipes in Small Plates & Sweet Treats will feed you well.

 

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Comments

[Anne]

Anything with shortbread I'm up for. (Although really... ALL of those things pictures look awfully good.)