People with incurable digestive problems have been helped by the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD), which restricts the use of complex carbohydrates and eliminates refined sugar, grains and starch without compromising taste. Cooking for the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is a very comprehensive cookbook on the topic and has over 100 recipes that will satisfy an entire family and not just those members who are affected.
I have no digestive problems but enjoyed everything I made. With recipes such as Almond Flour Waffles, French Onion Soup, Tomato Bruschetta, Ragu Bolognese, and French Vanilla Ice Cream it’s easy to forget it’s a diet of any kind.
The cookbook starts off my explaining what the SCD is, then lists useful kitchen tools and typical items needed in your pantry before introducing you to some basic recipes to make your own almond milk, yogurt, broth and more. These recipes are also used throughout the cookbook which is great for those who prefer to make these ingredients from scratch or to ensure the ingredients are SCD-approved.
I started off by making two recipes together, with Fennel Pesto Meatballs served on top of Roasted Spaghetti Squash. Adding pesto to the meatballs added a great flavor and the meatballs paired well with the squash. I tend to be a little picky when it comes to substituting regular pasta with spaghetti squash but was pleasantly surprised with this combination.
The Pizza Crust (or Focaccia) was the next recipe I tried and really liked having a dough recipe that was ready to cook immediately, due to the lack of yeast and therefore no rise time. It also was nice and crunchy due to the almond flour and the cheeses mixed in the dough, which was great for making thin crust pizza. I topped it off with a spicy tomato sauce, mozzarella and arugula.
Finally, I had to try the almond flour waffles featured on the cover. They were incredibly easy to make, with just enough to time whip up the batter while the griddle heated. Although they were a bit on the drier side, once topped with some vanilla Greek yogurt and strawberries I didn’t notice. Who eats plain waffles with no toppings anyway?
This cookbook is great tool for helping improve your digestive system, regardless of having any diagnosed issues, and the recipes taste great. If you are looking for a new sugar-free, gluten-free and grain-free cookbook, you should definitely look into this one. Even more so if you are juggling when it comes to mealtime, feeding a family that includes someone requiring a specific carb diet. I’m actually going to pass this cookbook along to a pregnant friend who may have developed gestational diabetes.
Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this cookbook from Beth Cook Publicity. I was not compensated for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
One year ago: Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli
