The New Zealand Food Allergy Cookbook
by Allergy New Zealand, Hodder Moa, $39.99
Allergies, especially those to food, are on the rise in New Zealand, with young children the most affected.
Between 6 and 8 per cent of young New Zealanders have an allergy to food. Dairy, eggs and peanuts are
the top-three allergens, followed by tree nuts (eg, cashews, almonds), soy, wheat, seeds, fish and shellfish.
Caring for a family member with food allergies or intolerance can be a challenge. Allergy New Zealand, a national charity which supports people with food allergies, has just released a cookbook in an effort to make life easier for sufferers and their care givers.
The book offers more than 260 recipes with wheat, gluten, dairy, egg, soy and nut-free options.
Take one look at the cover and you will be sold. The rice crust quiche looks fabulous, tastes fabulous and easy to make. An optional filling includes tofu and mushrooms - two of my favourite things - which I added. It was great for dinner with a salad and, even better, there were leftovers for lunch the next day.
But although this is a cookbook there's also advice for sufferers of allergies including how to adapt recipes and alternatives for dairy, eggs and wheat.
It has 13 recipe sections including one I felt particularly valuable ... snack meals and school lunches. It had dips, corn fritters and one of my favourites, salmon rissoles.
The book also has a section on kids' parties and Christmas as well as plenty of recipes to fill the baking tins.
Recipes you must try are: the orange and date muffins, rice and apricot chews; pizza and chicken sausage roll. As for the desserts, cakes and breads ... they all look worth a go.
This is a great book for everyone. I am lucky enough not to suffer allergies, however, I am convinced - having spent a week cooking from this book - that I certainly feel healthier.
Each book also has the cutest bookmark with it. Proceeds from the book go to Allergy New Zealand ... it's a win-win situation!
For more advice on allergies and to request a free food allergy information pack please visit www.allergy.org.nz.
