[This post is part of an ongoing series of interviews with cookbook authors, bloggers, women entrepreneurs and home chefs whose work I enjoy and admire. If you’ve got someone in mind you’d like me to approach for an interview, please shoot me an email at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom, or leave a comment here and let me know! And now, enjoy today’s installment!]
[Moist, light and delicious Breakfast Carrot Cake from The Essential Gluten-Free Baking Guide, Part I].
Today I’m thrilled to share my interview with Iris Higgins, who blogs at The Daily Dietribe, and Brittany Angell, who blogs at Real Sustenance. Both women blog gluten-free (with many vegan recipes), use whole foods ingredients, and create delicious, health-enhancing foods within their own dietary restrictions.
I’m also sharing their recipe for Breakfast Carrot Cake AND giving away a copy of their Essential Gluten-Free Baking Guide, Part I–skip to the end of the interview for details!
[Brittany Angell on the left; Iris Higgins on the right.]
They also share their personal journeys as they navigate health issues and learning to eat–and cook–in a new way. As Iris says on her blog, “The Daily Dietribe was born out of a realization that I had more to share than I knew. I write about my gluten-free journey, and about the ups and downs of living this lifestyle. But I also write about life in all its strange and awkward experiences, food related or not. ” These days, Iris practices as a women’s wellness coach and hypnotherapist, and is studying for a Master’s in nutrition.
In Brittany’s case, a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease, compounded by various food allergies, led her to seek out and create recipes that are free of major allergens, with the ultimate goal “to connect, engage and understand the needs of others and to guide them through their journey to health through education, support and recipe development.” And, I would add, a magical ability to create incredible, mouth-watering desserts that almost everyone can enjoy!
This power team co-wrote The Essential Gluten-Free Baking Guides, Part I and Part II. Why two books? Well, once they began to write the books, Iris and Brittany quickly realized that there was much more information to share about gluten-free baking, the different flours, ingredients substitutions and how best to use each flour than they’d anticipated. So they decided to present the information in two more manageable parts. If you have a favorite gluten-free flour that you like to use for most of your baking, you can select the book that features it. Of course, I’d recommend both books so that you have the full array of flours to work with!
I asked both women the same six questions. Here, I share their answers. They’ve also graciously agreed to let me publish the recipe for Breakfast Carrot Cake, which made a wonderfully light and moist snack the other day, with a cup of Bengal Spice Tea. I made my cake without raisins (both because they weren’t included in the original recipe and because they’re not part of the ACD); but if you can eat them, I’d highly recommend adding some to this lovely snack cake! (see recipe after the interview answers).

1. What was your impetus for writing the books?
Thanks so much, ladies, for giving us an insight into your process and the books!
Breakfast Carrot Cake
Suitable for: ACDStage 2 and beyond, sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg free, soy-free, nut free, vegan.
Now, for the giveaway! Please remember that you must use the Rafflecopter form to submit your comment–just click on the option (“+1 Do It!” ont he form) and then follow the directions, indicating that you’ve completed the comment. Once you do so on the form, you must still submit an actual comment in the comment section, below. Sorry for the extra step–but it makes the giveaway run so much more smoothly, and choosing a winner is automated this way, as well–no worries about counting wrong! 😉
The Details:
What: A copy of The Essential Gluten-Free Baking Guide, Part I (from which this recipe hails! Plus an interview with me in the book–you REALLY want it now, right?!)
Who: Anyone in Canada or the U.S.
When: Today until this coming Sunday, September, 30, at 11:59 PM my time.
How: Just leave a comment (using the Rafflecopter form to indicate your participation first), telling me: Which favorite recipe of yours would you like to make over as gluten-free? This can be one you’ve already done, or one you are dreaming about.
Why: Just because I love y’all!
Good luck, everyone!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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I used to make this pumpkin cobbler every year for thanksgiving and I would love to figure out how to make it GF. 🙂
I have yet to figure out a healthy tiramisu (okay not baked) recipe or eggnog cookies.
Chocolate filled donuts!
I would love to learn how to make a good gluten-free cinnamon bread, my son loves it and since we found out about our gluten intolerances I haven’t been able to make many cinnamon goodies for him.
Sounds like a great book!
Ana
Cinnamon Rolls we’re my biggie so if you’ve already cracked that recipe – THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I have cried and wasted so many ingredients on recipes that don’t work out. I would cherish these recipe books over all the rest. Thank you so much for doing all the hard work. I think I’ve gone a little crazy just trying. Thanks for the chance to win a great resource cookbook!
chocolate cake
Whole grain pizza crust. Or at least mostly whole grain. I don’t want to use a ton of starch!
Pumpkin Bread.
I miss Ravioli
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I have so many! not for me, but for my allergic hubs and celiac daughter. Bread for her, or tortillas. For him, any sweet thing! He is a sweet freak and then got candida. And he is not a good patient! 😉
I would love to see a wonderful gluten an dairy free red velvet cake recipe. 🙂
I would love a gluten free sourdough bread.
Poor Man’s Cake, AKA Boiled Raisin Cake. My mom used to make it for my birthday every year when I was growing up.
I would love to learn how to make cinnamon rolls gluten free. 🙂
I had a recipe for bran cookies that used different types of bran, in just the right amounts, that it was effective (did it’s job!) but did not cause me stomach pain, and actually tasted good. It should not be that hard, but still collecting different flour combos to try.
Eclairs. I miss them!
I would love to be able to make a good gluten free sourdough bread. I miss that so much!
tortillas that don’t crack or fall apart!
Hello — I just noticed your comment. Here in western Canada I discovered a company that makes the BEST real tortilla wraps. I don’t know if you can get them shipped to your door, but its worth investigating or making a trip to their bakery! http://www.earthsoven.com
I would also love a Cinnamon Bun recipe -they are my weakness… with frosting. 🙂
I would like to make TIRAMISU that is gluten-free…and dairy-free for that matter 😉
I would love to figure out a great bagel recipe! One that is more true to the texture of regular bagels…those are one of the things i miss most! 🙂
A pasty!
I would love to find a recipe for a real donut – Tim Hortons style – that wasn’t dense like most GF are. My favorite flavor was chocolate glazed.
I would love to learn how to replicate Pillsbury crescent rolls in gluten free form!!!
I would love to find a gluten ffree, dairy free, soyfree CREAM CHEESE substitute!! (Already sub coconut milk greek style for tufu, ricotta cheese or sour cream in many recipes)
I’m not entering the giveaway, but just wanted to take a moment to say what an excellent interview this was. Great job all the way ’round! Brittany and Iris have given the gluten-free community an incredible gift. 🙂
Shirley
there are probably a lot of things I’d like to make gf, but the first that comes to mind is pita bread.
apple cider doughnuts!
I would love to have a gluten-free power cookie for those crashes in the afternoon of my workday
Monkey bread!
I would love to make a glutton free Danish pastry 😀
a good thin pizza crust, grain-free & legume-free.
I used to love my grandma’s chocolate chip cookies…I know there are lots of cookie recipes out there that are gluten free, but they don’t match grandma’s!
Courtney
I would love to make a gluten free sour cream coffee cake. I have tried, but I’d really like it to be in the same shape and height as my original one I bake for family and friends. I am also trying to use any flours except rice and bean flours.
would love to see Cresent rolls. Have a vegetable pizza that I love, but looking for a “crust” to use that tastes as good.
I’m currently obsessed with making Korean potato croquette breads (my dad’s absolute favorite) healthier. I also really really love croissants…
I would really love to be able to make gluten-free sourdough bread.
Also, there was a yeasted muffin recipe I’ve tested for Celine Steen a few years ago, and I really have to try coming up with a gluten-free version – it was really amazing, and I want a version of it back into my life!
I’ve only been GF for a couple months now and I’m not exactly ready to bake just yet. But I know that now that the weather is cooling down, I’ll be ready to try my hand. And a cookbook would definitely help.
Ricki, what wonderful gals to feature! And I can’t wait to hear more about the next top secret project.
Hm….I’ve been thinking I need to figure out croissants. You know, something easy like that. Ha.
Good tortillas that are not too much of a pain are at the top of my list. A cobbler or crisp recipe sounds delicious too. Thanks for the awesome giveaway.
I wish I knew how to make gluten free pita bread!! It was my go-to base for so many quick dinners back in the gluten days. I really miss it!
Gluten-free croissants would be amazing… I haven’t managed to come up with a suitable flaky biscuit yet either.
I’d love to make a flaky pie crust, for a vegan pumpkin pie or apple pie.
I would love to see a gluten free sandwich bread that my children would eat (and like).
Hey Ricki, I love your blog! I’m currently on a 60 day anti candida diet/ detox and your blog has helped so much! I was wondering, you said it’s suitable for ACD 2 and beyond, does the coconut sugar feed candida? I had been wondering about this for a while now and was curious. A recipe I would love to see would be classic chocolate chip cookies 🙂
Carissa, congrats! I hope the diet/detox helps. 🙂 Yes, coconut sugar is still sugar, even though it’s lower glycemic. I wouldn’t have it before stage 2, maybe even stage 3. The glycemic index is similar to fruits. Hope that helps!
I am a vegetarian who is sugar, chocolate, gluten, dairy, and soy free. I would LOVE any SIMPLE & EASY low fat bread recipe that produces a quality textured bread. I miss sourdough, pumpernickel, and English muffins.
All the hard testing has been done. All I have to do is get the ingredients. Thanks for the contest!
I would love to perfect a chocolate bread recipe that my son had in France and still raves about. If it could be grain-free that would be best but gluten-free and dairy-free is a must.
Cinnamon rolls! I love cinnamon rolls!
I would love to see a good gluten free snack cake with protein.
Tiramisu
I would love to make some really great cobbler that isn’t too grainy! 🙂
Hi
Remake lemon poppyseed muffins.
My old time favorite flavor. I just tried them for the 1st time gluten free and they are my family’s favorite again!
Chocolate eclairs. 🙂
A bread that has the taste and texture (and nutrition) of whole grain bread.. Most breads seem to imitate white flour bread
Indian-style Naan
stromboli! not an easy one, but yum.
xo
kittee
Wish I could find a recipe for soft, fluffy hamburger/hotdog buns!!
A really amazing snickerdoodle recipe or a nice loaf of french bread.
I would like to have a bagel recipe that was like the ones with gluten. Also a great pizze dough recipe.
chocolate cake. fluffy, decadent, delicious chocolate cake that is somehow both gluten-free and healthy at the same time.
I’ve been trying to make gluten free puff pastry! More specifically gluten-free vegan baklava. It has been a challenge, and my trials have been failures, but I am still trying!
I would LOVE to have some snack crackers. The biggest thing I miss about being gluten free is not having enough stuff to munch on. (we are also corn, soy, and dairy free)
I would love to make biscuits and gravy that taste awesome! Or some garlic cheese bread. 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win.
finally been able to sit and read this interview – sounds like a great collection of books – gf flours are such a challenge when you don’t use them regularly so the books are probably useful for people like me who only use them occasionally
This cake looks delicious! I would love it if you visited my new Gluten-Free Monday party at OneCreativeMommy.com and linked up this and any other idea you would like to share. I hope to see you there.
I love these girls, AND their recipes! I have both books and they’re fabulous.
I couldn’t agree more! 🙂
i loooove carrot cake. so if you can tell me i can eat this for breakfast, i’m in 😉
You can eat this for breakfast. (There). 😉