Introducing “Simply Meals: The Gluten, Dairy, And Egg Free Way”. Let’s Embark on a Delicious Journey Together!

Wendy Hunter
Jan 19, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Jul 9

In case we haven’t met, my name is Wendy, and I am a mother, a grandmother, and a Foodie—from way before being a Foodie was a thing!! I started cooking for Brownie Badges when I was 8 or 9 years old, and I haven’t stopped (cooking that is, I earned all the Brownie Badges a long time ago!)

Now that I am well into the second half of my life, I am passionate about creating food that is nutritious and makes me feel good. However, my recent journey to health has opened a whole new chapter in my life. Because of my food sensitivities to gluten, dairy, and eggs, I literally had to re-write the book! I had to learn how to substitute ingredients so that I could continue to eat the foods I have always enjoyed!

When I first started on this gluten, dairy, and egg free journey I googled recipes on every platform and was never able to find dishes that included all 3 of my food restrictions. So I learned how to substitute ingredients and began transforming my old recipes into dishes that I could eat while ensuring they were still just as tasty. This cookbook came about because I simply wanted to share what I learned with others.

Can Change Be Delicious?

This book is not just about the recipes, it’s also a guide to teach you how to make substitutions with your own recipes. I bet you have some favourites, and a few good ole standbys, right? Whether you are a seasoned chef or just starting out in the kitchen, "Simply Meals" will introduce you to the fundamentals of cooking with food restrictions and my step-by-step instructions will help you succeed in the kitchen.

I’m all about Simple, Quick, and Nutritious meals! Living with food restrictions doesn’t have to be the dreaded “life sentence” it has been made out to be; embrace a world of endless possibilities and let’s give your life the flavour it deserves. "Simply Meals" will show you how to navigate the complexities of gluten, dairy, and egg free cooking with ease. From ingredient substitutions to flavour experimentation, you'll gain the knowledge and confidence to create meals that will wow your taste buds and impress your loved ones.

The Recipes

Who doesn’t love a good lasagna… am I right? I’m particularly proud of the Lasagna recipe that appears on page 36 of “Simply Meals”. Making a gluten free lasagna was easy to do but making it dairy free as well took a lot of ingenuity and tonnes of testing! When I got the idea to use squash instead of the ricotta cheese-egg layer, I was absolutely shocked at how good it was! I have shared this recipe with so many people, and it’s always a hit. In fact, it is one of my most requested meals for potlucks.

Do you love a good creamy dip? Another recipe that I hit out of the park was the Caramelised Onion Dip on page 82. It has become a family favourite and is requested at our Christmas Eve gathering every year. The creamy sweetness of the caramelised onion along with a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper to give it a bit of kick[A1] is perfect to go with anything you like to dip!

No More Trial and Error

I think one of the toughest parts to learning to cook with food restrictions is the trial-and-error part. Nobody wants to make a flop and potentially waste food! Luckily, I have taken the guess work out for you. I realized very quickly while I was jotting down my ideas that writing a cookbook is less about writing and more about recipe development and testing. I was determined to get it RIGHT for myself and for YOU! This was a project that was completely out of my comfort zone. I have a tendency towards Perfectionism (I am working on it) and there were many 2 a.m. awakenings with a nightmarish thought like “What if there is a mistake in my cookbook!?

Well, can you guess what happened? I found a mistake! And just so you know, I didn’t die! The Grain Free Crackers Recipe has a mistake in the ingredients and is missing a couple Instructions. So here is the complete and corrected[A2] recipe for you.

The Power to Cook Amazing Meals is In Your Hand

Are you ready to start eating the meals you love again? Give some of my recipes a try. And don’t forget to read the sections in between the recipes where you will find different options or suggestions as to what you might use in your own recipes.

I would love to know what you think about the recipes in my book. I also want to invite you to share a tried-and-true recipe, a favourite blogger or recipe developer, or social media account you follow. And if you have a dessert that you want me to help you experiment with to make it work for you and your family, let me know – it might just show up in my next cookbook. The learning truly never ends!