Orange Blossom and Honey Parfait recipe found in The Alternative Autoimmune Cookbook
Angie Alt of Alt-ternative Autoimmune is one of my favourite autoimmune bloggers. I love her writing style and of course, what she has to say. When I read her blog posts I feel as though she's one of my besties chatting away to me alone and that's quite a gift. But for all the banter, she has some great advice and many words of wisdom to impart. She seriously knows her stuff (you won't be surprised to know she's a Health Coach) so needless to say I was pretty thrilled when she sent me her new book, The Alternative Autoimmune Cookbook, to look through.
Just as the AIP isn't all about the food, the same is true about Angie's book. There are other considerations to take into account on a healing journey and Angie covers these really, really well. As you learn her story you'll gather she has a wealth of experience to draw upon, which makes for interesting and inspiring reading. Never afraid to tackle 'delicate' topics, she speaks about the necessities of getting some balance into our lives, such as addressing disordered eating, the denial, anger, fear and grief associated with illness and the expectations of healing. You'll love her Checklist for food reactions, in which she offers suggestions of what to be looking out for if your body isn't tolerating a certain food, both physically and mentally. Angie also touches on body image, her new manifesto of what is the perfect butt is hilarious and so cleverly done .. mine, for the record is spot on and I'm willing to bet yours is too!!
She's a straight talker and doesn't mince her words (which are pure common sense by the way), but she isn't preachy. She's your best mate, after all! Angie fully understands that embarking on the AIP is a huge leap and that it is essential to be in a state of absolute readiness in order to get the most out of it. Some people may prefer to ease in to the transition gently and Angie gives sage words and advice on that. She also encourages you to stick with it when the going gets tough with pointers you can easily put into practice and there's even advice on how to get the children on board as well. Come to think of it, she's thought of everything!
![Tom Kha Gai [AIP]](https://i0.wp.com/healingfamilyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Tom-Kha-Gai-AIP.jpg?resize=682%2C1024)
Tom Kha Gai recipe found in The Alternative Autoimmune Cookbook
Of course this is a Cookbook, so let's take a look at some of the recipes. These are divided into Stages of the AIP, making it extremely easy to navigate and whilst the recipes I cooked happen to be in the Elimination Stage, many of the Reintroduction Stage recipes are completely doable with the omittance of only one or two ingredients. As a GAPS follower as well as AIP, I was overjoyed to see that the majority of recipes suit our low starch diet, or can be easily modified. Many AIP recipes out there are off limits to us but Angie's don't all rely on high starch vegetables, thickeners/binders and the like.
Her Tom Kha Gai (pictured above) was absolutely delicious, and particularly welcome given we had long since said goodbye to the Thai take-outs of our past life. We also enjoyed her Orange Blossom and Honey Parfaits (pictured at top), a pretty and delicate finish to a satisfying AIP meal which consisted of Lemon Rosemary Brined Pork Chops (see recipe below) with Shallot and Rosemary Roasted Butternut Squash and simple Canadian Brussels Sprouts. Angie's Breakfast Meatloaf provided a delicious early morning feast and did not disappoint, despite high expectations from the night before when the cooking smells pervaded our kitchen. Other recipes on my radar to try are Turmeric Pumpkin Soup with Shrimp (that gorgeous cover photo), Carrot Cake Macaroons, Lemon Bar Ice Cream, the list is exhaustive.
Angie very humbly acknowledges this book isn't all down to her. She has in fact written it with her sister Jenifer Beehler, who isn't on the AIP, so don't go thinking these recipes are only intended for those following an elimination diet. She credits her photographer, who has done a fantastic job because this book is beautifully presented with bright, stunning photography, and there are lovely illustrations throughout. The recipes are all simple but imaginative and certainly don't shout 'special diet' in any way.
Bottom line. This truly lovely book is sure to be an overnight success, earning a pride of place ... I would say on your bookshelf or coffee table but this one deserves to be in the kitchen, collecting food splatters and stains from many meals of use. You know something? Angie has had a tough ride with her health and if she can make it then, with this book firmly by our sides, so can we!
Angie has very kindly given me an e-book (worth $17) to give away to one lucky person. All you need do is leave a comment on this post, saying why you would like to win this e-book, and a winner will be chosen at random on Sunday night, 11.59 PST. If you don't manage to win, or you can't wait another moment to read some more or get your own copy, click this link to find out how. And if you're the hard copy sort of person, look here. Good luck! [GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED]
Lemon Rosemary Brined Pork Chops photograph and recipe from The Alternative Autoimmune Cookbook
1+3/4 cups filtered water
5 tbsp salt
1 yellow onion, sliced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
4 sprigs fresh rosemary
3 bay leaves
1 lemon, halved
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
20 ice cubes
4 bone-in pork chops
Wow. What a great idea for a cookbook. I'd love to have a copy; every recipe you mention is something I would try. They all are original and sound delicious.
Beautiful! Thank you so much Kate!
I'd love to win a copy of this beautiful cookbook so I can get through this wall I have about breakfast! Gluten-free was relatively easy, but grain free is proving much more difficult! I've given myself one more month to finish transitioning so I can start 2015 off with a positive look on living autoimmune!
I would love to win this cookbook to make this transition to aip easier .holy smokes is it hard!
I hoped for some other recipe, Meg from BE Paleo already shared this one... Anyway it sounds delicious, yum !! And this book is getting such great reviews, that I'd love to have one copy too! Good job, Angie, and thanks for a great review, Kate 🙂
I could use some more AIP recipes, and info on re-introductions would be very helpful.
I'd love this book because one can never have enough cook books!
I would love to win a copy of this book to get more recipes for myself and two lovely daughters to continue our AIP journey with as much variety as possible. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to win this cookbook to try new and exciting AIP recipes! AIP can be difficult but having an abundance of exciting recipes from blogs and cookbooks keeps me on track.
I would love to win this book. I've bee trying to embark on the aip journey and have found it to be really difficult this book would help me take the leap.
Great review. Every recipe you mentioned sounded wonderful. I'd really love to win the copy of Angie's book as I'm relatively new to AIP and my meals have been so so basic since I started. It seems like this book would bring a bit more life back into the kitchen.
I am just starting this AIP journey and I am having such a good time! I can't believe how EVERY recipe has turned out well and has been yummy. AND, I feel AMAZING! I can't wait to try the recipes in this book and add them to my growing collection.
This book looks absolutely lovely! I am a young adult living with an autoimmune disorder, and AIP has changed my life. I'm currently in graduate school and quite busy, so I'm always looking for new recipes to spark my excitement to cook. I can't wait to try the recipes in this book! Thanks! 🙂
Stunning photos, stunning recipes, what more can I say?! Oh yes. I'd LOVE this book 🙂
I have been following the AIP diet for six plus months and also have had to eliminate garlic and onions so I'm always looking for recipes to keep me on track - I am determined to heal my gut - I need more inspiration and the reviews tell me I may find it in Angie's cookbook.
This cookbook sounds wonderful and the recipes look delicious! I would like to win a copy of The Alternative Autoimmune Cookbook because I am a college student and I am looking for new recipes to try! Also, there seems to be a lot of useful information in it as well!
This book is getting wonderful reviews and praise from all over the AIP blogger community. I've just transitioned to AIP, after being diagnosed with auto immune disorder 10 years ago. And side day hope to try GAPS. But the transition is not easy -physically, mentally or emotionally. Her cook book seem s to touch on that as well and I could use the encouragement on this journey as well as the practicalness. Thanks for sharing the recipe and review!!
I would love to win this book! I have Crohns Disease as well as Hashimotos, and I just recently heard about autoimmune paleo. I'm hoping it will help with my Chrons since no medication has been able to put me in remission.
I'd love to win to be able to use the recipes to cook for my Dad over the holidays. We both have multiple autoimmune diseases. My mom is really struggling with what to make for meals for my Dad, since he has new(and changing) dietary restrictions. I'd love to help them become comfortable with some core meals to take the stress/panic out of meal planning and mealtime. This will also benefits me as I'll be able to continue to use the recipes for myself. This would be a true gift for the whole family this holiday season.
I really enjoy Angie's recipes and her writing, too. Her cookbook is definitely on my holiday short list. Thanks for chance to win a copy!
I have been a Paleo cook for three years, cooking for and instructing people and I am now working on specializing in AIP, so I can be most useful in that growing niche. It's amazing to watch others ground into their bodies, which are no longer inflamed, and to come into vibrancy, sometimes more vibrancy than they've ever known. Beautiful cookbook!
I would love to win this!
I would love the chance to win this cookbook! I coach a lot of folks on how to eat to manage their autoimmune conditions, and this would be a wonderful resource to have! Thanks!
Thank you for the preview of Angie Alt's new cookbook. I am two months into AIP and new recipes would be welcome. I like the fact that she wrote the book with her sister who does not have a restricted diet. I am trying to cook meals that are suitable for me but can be enjoyed by my husband and daughter as well. I would love to have the book!
I would love to win a copy of this book! I'm already Paleo but find going AIP just feels so overwhelming, not to mention the other aspects of the book that I don't believe anyone else has done. I trend toward anorexia, so sounds like she's got something besides recipes to help me.
I'd love to win this because I'm really struggling with my health and could use some help with not feeling so alone and new recipe ideas.
My daughter and I have fibro and food allergies. We have been working hard to feel Better and now want to start looking in to more paleo recipes. This works be a great gift. Thank you 🙂
I would be happy to win a copy of this great cookbook. I am challenged with autoimmune, muscular myopathy, RA and allergies. I will be lifetime AIP and will need all the best that is written to guide and teach me. Thank you for this endeavor to the autoimmune market, muchly needed and appreciated.
I'm just recently paleo, and see aip in my future soon. I'm trying to learn all I can, and the cookbook sounds educational and delicious. A great combo. Thanks!
Thank you for offering this give-away! As I'm new on my AIP journey, I'd love to win this e-book and try out the recipes with my family and friends.
I would love to win this book to help my preteen daughter deal with going AIP.
I would love to have a copy of this book. I love Angie's blog and her message of self love and acceptance as a road to healing my autoimmune issues.
I get tired of looking through recipes and figuring out how to make them AIP. I would love to add this to my AIP resources!!