Camilla V. Saulsbury, creator of 15 cookbooks and winner of three of America’s top competitions, adds another set of recipes to her repertoire, and this time it is 150 Best Gluten-free Muffin Recipes. 
With the rise of gluten sensitivities and many people choosing not to use gluten in their diet this book comes at a perfect time. As I perused the cookbook to decide which recipes I would test it became a challenge to choose because there are so many great ones.
For the purpose of the review we are asked to test three recipes. The first one I tested was “Walnut Cardamom Crumb Muffins.” Not wanting to use granulated sugar, I used coconut crystals instead and don’t feel it changed the recipe at all. The muffin was tasty and had a distinct cardamom flavor. The texture was light, and even when cooled remained light.
The second recipe I tested was “Bleu Cheese Toasted Pecan Muffins.” The base was a brown rice flour blend (recipe included) and was light and fluffy. The muffins had a distinct bleu cheese flavor and went well with a tossed salad for lunch.
The third recipe I tested was “Morning Glory Muffins.” Using the brown rice flour blend and adding the other ingredients gave a distinct carrot-cake texture. The ingredients going into this texture were applesauce, crushed pineapple, shredded carrots, shredded apple, flaked coconut, and raisins. The recipe asks for 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar which I feel is way too much. The fruit itself was sweet enough. I ended up giving the first batch away and tried it again without so much sugar; instead, I used 1/4 cup of coconut crystals. For us this was much more palatable. As well, these muffins taste much better the next day when the flavors mellow. With my modification I will be making this recipe again.
I will be making many more recipes from 150 Best Gluten-free Muffin Recipes by Camilla V. Saulsbury, both sweet and savory. The sections which contain the many choices include Saulsbury’s Top 15, Breakfast, Coffeehouse, Lunch/Supper, and Global. I do recommend this book; the recipes are simple, the ingredients can be found in any kitchen pantry or local grocery store, and Saulsbury gives many options for those sensitive to gluten. With 150 recipes in total, a creative cook can have a field day providing healthy alternatives.
(Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views)
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