~ CLOSED ~ The Ice Dream Cookbook: Dairy-Free Ice Cream Alternatives with Gluten-Free Cookies, Compotes & Sauces by Chef Rachel Albert-Matesz ~ Review & Giveaway ~

If you are one of the tens of thousands of individuals living with a dietary restriction, or if you just want to avoid eating a lot of refined and overly processed foods, then you will want to keep this cookbook on a handy shelf in the kitchen.

This book is a veritable library of information with the first three chapters packed full of information on ingredients, shopping tips, equipment and techniques.  Even the “Introduction” is chock full of facts, stories, and trivia.

There are four complete chapters of Ice-Dream recipes, featuring not only the “Basic Flavors”, but also “Beyond the Basic Flavors”, “Coffee, Tea and Nut Flavors” and” Fruity Favorites”.   You’ll also find chapters on “Sauces”, “a la Mode” and “Additional Indulgences”.

When I review a cookbook, not only do I read it from cover to cover, I also like to try several of the recipes.  Given that it’s freezing outside and our yard is presently covered in over 30cm of snow, I decided to try something non Ice-Dream.

I made several of chef Rachel Albert-Matesz recipes including:

"My Favorite Macaroons" 

These were delicious!  I opted to make the "Mini Macaroon Cups" version, they were so simple and easy for such a spectacular treat.

This is a bowl of "Cashew Pralines".

Again: simple, easy and delicious.  The recipe says that stored in a covered jar, these will last 3 months.  Well, I'm not sure if that would ever happen, because at my home, the entire bowl was emptied in less than 3 hours!!

"Pumpkin Pudding Pie"

Before - 

After -

This pie was outstanding!!  My daughter, "hates" coconut and even though this recipe has 3/4 cup coconut milk, she didn't even know (well, she'll know now when she reads this!!)  She even asked if we could have this at Christmas instead of the pumpkin pie I usually make.   Once again, super easy, I just whirled it all together in the blender and poured it into the prepared pie shell.  The only change I would make is to add an extra teaspoon of the pumpkin pie spice, I guess we're an extra spicy family!!

  

Don’t be misled into thinking this is a cookbook to pull out once or twice a summer when you want to make the ice cream alternative, “Ice Dream”.  This is most definitely a year round cookbook and one I’m sure you’ll find yourself reaching for time and time again! 

BUY IT:

To purchase one or more of Chef Rachel Albert-Matesz two cookbooks or her cooking DVD set, just visit here.

WIN IT:
One very lucky reader of Older Mommy Still Yummy will win there very own copy of The Ice Dream Cookbook: Dairy-Free Ice Cream Alternatives with Gluten-Free Cookies, Compotes & Sauces by Chef Rachel Albert-Matesz.  ARV - $30.00 (USD)