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Gluten Is My Bitch: Rants, Recipes, and Ridiculousness for the Gluten-Free by April Peveteaux
kaila_robertson's review against another edition
4.0
look i was mostly looking for recipes but it was also nice to pick up a book that didn't shower me in positivity about going gluten-free bc "it's an opportunity to be healthier!!!!!!" yeah ok Karen but what about the fact that I can no longer frequent my favourite French bakery that makes its own delicious bread and the MOST gorgeous blueberry doughnuts you will ever experience huh????? so uh, thank you to April Peveteaux for indulging my persistent urge to scream and cry about being coeliac for all eternity
rebelbelle13's review against another edition
4.0
Since May is Celiac Disease Awareness month, I thought I would read something appropriate, given that I have the disease and I haven't really read a book about it yet. This is a great book for the newly diagnosed, and I think I would have gotten way more out of it had I read it four years ago. As it stands it's still a great resource, and let's be fair, it's nice to read about someone who is in your exact predicament. Commiseration is important. Peveteaux approaches the disease and its aspects with humor, and hits the nail on the head more than once, and I found myself giggling at her observations. There are a lot of things she mentions that I already know, especially about things like the process for eating out at restaurants and cross-contamination- but are really important things for the newly diagnosed to understand.
I did appreciate the inclusion of recipes as well, and even tried some, just to round out my review- the Chess Pie and the Mexican Corn Bread were very good, but very sugary (as advertised) and very dairy filled, respectively. There are a few other recipes she has where I've made something very similar, but not that exact thing, so I think I'm on the right track!
A few things left me wanting. First, she fries A LOT. As someone who couldn't handle fried food even before my diagnosis, these recipes are completely off the table. Secondly, the majority of the recipes are chock full of dairy- cheese, buttermilk, butter, you name it. They won't help those who are avoiding dairy as well. She also advocates eating whatever you want after your diagnosis because you're going to be sad, and I see where she's coming from, but I can't condone it. I understand the culinary depression that comes from upending your life, but that doesn't give you free reign to eat nothing but french fries, gf pizza and ice cream. Your gut might be ok, but your arteries and heart certainly won't be. Also, who the heck books a trip to Paris immediately after your Celiac diagnosis without speaking the language? Sorry, but what a dumb move.
Other than that, I did enjoy myself with this little book, and I'm keeping it around for some of the recipes. I'd love to see April write more about trips to other countries (with a translator in tow, please) now that she's a seasoned Celiac. And, it's been several years since her last update in the medical world- I know the vaccine fizzled but I'd love to know what else is out there being developed.
Great book for new celiacs, and some great recipes for those of us who've been around the gluten free block a few times.
I did appreciate the inclusion of recipes as well, and even tried some, just to round out my review- the Chess Pie and the Mexican Corn Bread were very good, but very sugary (as advertised) and very dairy filled, respectively. There are a few other recipes she has where I've made something very similar, but not that exact thing, so I think I'm on the right track!
A few things left me wanting. First, she fries A LOT. As someone who couldn't handle fried food even before my diagnosis, these recipes are completely off the table. Secondly, the majority of the recipes are chock full of dairy- cheese, buttermilk, butter, you name it. They won't help those who are avoiding dairy as well. She also advocates eating whatever you want after your diagnosis because you're going to be sad, and I see where she's coming from, but I can't condone it. I understand the culinary depression that comes from upending your life, but that doesn't give you free reign to eat nothing but french fries, gf pizza and ice cream. Your gut might be ok, but your arteries and heart certainly won't be. Also, who the heck books a trip to Paris immediately after your Celiac diagnosis without speaking the language? Sorry, but what a dumb move.
Other than that, I did enjoy myself with this little book, and I'm keeping it around for some of the recipes. I'd love to see April write more about trips to other countries (with a translator in tow, please) now that she's a seasoned Celiac. And, it's been several years since her last update in the medical world- I know the vaccine fizzled but I'd love to know what else is out there being developed.
Great book for new celiacs, and some great recipes for those of us who've been around the gluten free block a few times.
peterongcook's review against another edition
4.0
This is more like a 3.5 Star book. I think it deserved the 4 star rating because ultimately, it is a great resource book that provides recipes, products, restaurants, perspective, advice and tips that are good for the gluten-intolerant / allergic and those who live with them. I have not tried any of her recipes yet, but they look legit, so my rating isn’t based on those.
I’m not a fan of the blogger-tone of the book, as it feels a little too snarky at times. I get it, because being allergic to gluten sucks and having people blame you or be flippant about it sucks worse, but the tone is consistent enough that it got tiring. I’m sure many people like this tone.
Overall, the author is pretty wise beneath the snark. Don’t be a hero about your gluten allergy. Don’t be insufferable about it, but don’t suffer because you don’t want to make others feel uncomfortable. It genuinely sucks to get “glutened” and there’s no sense in letting yourself get dosed because you didn’t speak up about it.
And ultimately, not being allowed to eat gluten is the perfect time to just starting to eat healthier.
I’m not a fan of the blogger-tone of the book, as it feels a little too snarky at times. I get it, because being allergic to gluten sucks and having people blame you or be flippant about it sucks worse, but the tone is consistent enough that it got tiring. I’m sure many people like this tone.
Overall, the author is pretty wise beneath the snark. Don’t be a hero about your gluten allergy. Don’t be insufferable about it, but don’t suffer because you don’t want to make others feel uncomfortable. It genuinely sucks to get “glutened” and there’s no sense in letting yourself get dosed because you didn’t speak up about it.
And ultimately, not being allowed to eat gluten is the perfect time to just starting to eat healthier.
eshipley's review against another edition
4.0
Really informative for my current and life long reality with the right amount of humor to help me not break down crying.
cmccormack17's review against another edition
3.0
As someone who's been diagnosed with Celiac for over 10 years, this book contained little new information to me - but oh, how I wish this book had existed when I was first diagnosed! Her humor is wonderful and I can imagine how immensely it would help a newly diagnosed Celiac. I AM excited to try some of her recipes though. Many of them are for foods that stray a bit from the usual "intro to gluten free" recipes. Good read! I'm going to follow her blog because I love her personality, which shines through in this book.
katekatiekait's review against another edition
I like her tips on restaurants and grocery shopping, excited to try the carrot cake recipe, a bit disappointed so many recipes call for a fryer.
bartlebies's review against another edition
5.0
Allow me to wax poetic about this book for a few minutes. I’ve only recently been diagnosed with Celiac, although I’ve been dealing with the symptoms for close to a year now and this book is a godsend. Most of my research before now has come from forums on celiac.com, which number in the hundreds-of-thousands and aren’t comprehensive in any form of the word. I was able to glean the very basics of what it takes to be truly gluten-free, and I also got really specific information I’ll never have any use for.
All that said, this book should be handed out to every newly-diagnosed gluten-intolerant. I’ll briefly mention the humor – there’s nothing more depressing than reading about your chronic autoimmune disease that forces you to never eat cinnamon rolls again and not even be able to laugh about it. Peveteaux knows exactly how to turn that gluten-less frown upside-down (to the best of her ability; there’s still no cinnamon rolls involved, so…).
In my cursory research, I found myself with about 60% more anxiety about being a celiac-sufferer after reading those forums because EVERYTHING SUCKS and THERE’S NO HELP FOR US! This book really covers all its bases. I found myself wondering if she was going to cover this obscure gluten-related topic or the other, and she did! From the first few weeks of learning you’re basically about to hate everyone around you for being able to eat a baguette, to the evils of cross-contamination, to other restrictive diets, to traveling in the USA or overseas, to airplane food, to debunked meds, to current research on treatments, to helpful hints for parents with celiac kids, to an updated (2013) chapter on gluten-related updates - it's all there! All that, plus a full stock of varied recipes.
This book is inundated with tips for the newbie as well as the celiac veteran, all done with an amazing amount of levity. I only wish I could convince everyone else in my life to read this book so they might realize that Yes, I know that bag says “gluten-free”, but No, that doesn’t actually mean I can eat it. Yes, I appreciate that you're willing to cook gluten-free for me, but No, I don't trust that you've sufficiently bleached every surface of your counterspace beforehand.
She even has a story about asking a server at Chipotle to change his gloves – a situation I’ve very specifically been dreading! I knew from the moment I was diagnosed that my inability to speak up for myself was going to be an issue, especially when it comes to eating out. I wish I had someone in my corner to do it for me, but I suppose I’ll have to be my own advocate. At any rate, I’m glad to see I wasn’t the only one struggling with speaking out and sounding like an asshole when really all I want to do is not DIE, thanks.
Now with a full list of all the kitchen and cooking equipment I’ll need to keep a shared kitchen from become a death sentence, I’m poised to drop another $500 on a debilitating and expensive illness. Yay! At least Peveteaux’s book will be there for me to commiserate after the fact.
All that said, this book should be handed out to every newly-diagnosed gluten-intolerant. I’ll briefly mention the humor – there’s nothing more depressing than reading about your chronic autoimmune disease that forces you to never eat cinnamon rolls again and not even be able to laugh about it. Peveteaux knows exactly how to turn that gluten-less frown upside-down (to the best of her ability; there’s still no cinnamon rolls involved, so…).
In my cursory research, I found myself with about 60% more anxiety about being a celiac-sufferer after reading those forums because EVERYTHING SUCKS and THERE’S NO HELP FOR US! This book really covers all its bases. I found myself wondering if she was going to cover this obscure gluten-related topic or the other, and she did! From the first few weeks of learning you’re basically about to hate everyone around you for being able to eat a baguette, to the evils of cross-contamination, to other restrictive diets, to traveling in the USA or overseas, to airplane food, to debunked meds, to current research on treatments, to helpful hints for parents with celiac kids, to an updated (2013) chapter on gluten-related updates - it's all there! All that, plus a full stock of varied recipes.
This book is inundated with tips for the newbie as well as the celiac veteran, all done with an amazing amount of levity. I only wish I could convince everyone else in my life to read this book so they might realize that Yes, I know that bag says “gluten-free”, but No, that doesn’t actually mean I can eat it. Yes, I appreciate that you're willing to cook gluten-free for me, but No, I don't trust that you've sufficiently bleached every surface of your counterspace beforehand.
She even has a story about asking a server at Chipotle to change his gloves – a situation I’ve very specifically been dreading! I knew from the moment I was diagnosed that my inability to speak up for myself was going to be an issue, especially when it comes to eating out. I wish I had someone in my corner to do it for me, but I suppose I’ll have to be my own advocate. At any rate, I’m glad to see I wasn’t the only one struggling with speaking out and sounding like an asshole when really all I want to do is not DIE, thanks.
Now with a full list of all the kitchen and cooking equipment I’ll need to keep a shared kitchen from become a death sentence, I’m poised to drop another $500 on a debilitating and expensive illness. Yay! At least Peveteaux’s book will be there for me to commiserate after the fact.