From my family to yours,     
I'm wishing you a 
             Merry Christmas!

Even a Husband can do it

This is Tracy's husband, Bri, feelin' good about pinch hitting tonight. Tracy is taking some well deserved R & R at a friend's party tonight following an all day signing she did at The Bible House in Orange, CA. You know, the place down the street from where the Angels play...and, while on the subject of the Angels, I personally feel they needed to acquire a good middle reliever instead of paying so much money for Josh Hamilton after emptying the bank account last year for Albert Puljos. I sure hope they have enough money when they need it for the real star of the team, Mike Trout.

Well, for those of you still left reading, I just had to sneak onto the blog and report that I made the Black Bean Brownie samples for tomorrow's signing at Savoy Cafe & Deli in Santa Barbara, CA. Well, I didn't make all the samples. Trace made the ones with walnuts and I made the samples with almonds.

I'm pretty pleased with myself and needed to brag to someone. No one was home except the dog, Bailey, and she wasn't interested in the least about my accomplishment once she learned I hadn't called her into the kitchen to give her scraps. So, I thought, I can't call anyone on a Friday night and say "guess what I just did on a Friday night." But, the Blogsphere, or however you say it, they might just be impressed that I, a mere husband, a certified klutz in the kitchen, made an entire batch of Black Bean Brownies with Almonds and chocolate chips.

Hey, it's not like I'd never done it before (See "Bri's Big Black Bean Adventure" on October 11, 2012 where I baked for my auto shop, Swedish Asian Auto and I think they're still healthy and in business). So, if you find your way to Savoy Cafe & Deli tomorrow or Sunday, be sure to ask for the samples with the almonds and let me know what you think. Oh, and I'm offering a free signed book to anyone who gets the sample with my wedding ring in it, provided you can return it to me without my wife finding out.

Thanks for listening--you made my night!

~Tracy's Husband

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes.

You can buy Delightfully Free and Even More Delightfully Free on my website, www.delightfullyfree.com or directly at this link: https://squareup.com/market/delightfully-free
Your signed books always come with free shipping. We do not sell on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or any other internet sites.

I'm in Santa Barbara at Savoy Cafe & Deli!

I can hardly wait for this weekend. I will be returning to Savoy Cafe & Deli in Santa Barbara on Saturday, December 15th, from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM and again on Sunday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM signing my gluten-free, dairy-free & refined sugar-free cookbook, Delightfully Free.

 

Looking toward State Street

I love going to Savoy Cafe & Deli. Why? Let's begin with the charming, warm hospitality of owners Kathy and Paul Shields, and their entire staff, which extends not just to me but to every guest they make feel welcomed and special.

Here I am last time with my friend and owner Kathy Shields

Then, of course, there's the food. Creative, tempting and delicious, presented beautifully. Choices of all kinds of salads like Strawberry Spinach w/ Walnuts, Forbidden Rice Salad and Fresh Greek w/ Creamy Feta, or the best salad bar in town, homemade quiches, fresh soups like Tomato-Basil and Creamy Chipotle Carrot, innovative fresh sandwiches and a range of hot entrees like Seared Wild Salmon, Pasilla Turkey Fritters, Oven Roasted Veggies and Macaroni & Cheese,  just to name a few. To top it off, Kathy bakes daily a variety of treats like cakes by the slice, pies, cookies, cheesecake and muffins. Many of the selections are gluten free, dairy free/vegan and some are naturally sweetened. It's also reasonably priced. Since I will be there all day, I will be forced to eat all three meals on site! : )

The happy patrons on a lovely Saturday afternoon

 
You'll find Savoy Cafe & Deli at 24 Figueroa Street which is just west of and perpendicular to State Street in the heart of Santa Barbara's beautiful downtown. So, if you're shopping along State Street, you're only a short walk away. 

State Street at Dusk

I know it's a busy time of year, but maybe a stop at Savoy Cafe & Deli for a healthy, delicious meal to recharge is just what you need to make your holiday shopping memorable and fun. Kathy usually surprises me with a few offerings from my book. Here's the Pumpkin Pie and Whipped Topping she made last time I was there (yes, it was delicious).

I enjoyed every bite!

And, finally, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that my cookbook, Delightfully Free, would make a wonderful gift for anyone who eats gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free,  or who simply wants a quantum leap toward eating healthy. So, even if you have a book already, you just might want another as a gift for Christmas or for the final two days of Hanukkah. I will have some gift wrapped and ready to go!

~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes.

Angels & Bibles

I've mentioned Angels in a couple of recent posts, so it seems like a perfect segue to bring up that I am doing a book signing this Friday at The Bible House in Orange, California. And, coincidentally, it also is close to (down the same street from, in fact,) Angel Stadium where my local professional baseball team plays. While on the subject of the Angels (baseball team), my husband points out that  their official name is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim which literally means "The Angels Angels of Anaheim."  He thinks they deserve a nickname like the "Angels Ditto" or the "Halos Squared". Of course, "Triple A" is already taken by the Automobile Club , even though the Angels do have a Triple A team...oh no, Bri has talked too much baseball with me. Back to the storyline. Here are the details on this Friday.

The Bible House is at 1634 E. Katella Ave in Orange, CA (corner of Tustin & Katella) I am planning to be there from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM & 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. I hope to see you there.

~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes.

Didn't See Any Angels...

I had a great time at the Holiday Boutique put on by the Orange Quilt Bee in Orange, CA. It's right down the street from Angel Stadium but I'm pretty sure I didn't see any Angels. I did meet many really nice people though.  I knew I would because my mother-in-law is a quilter and one of the nicest people I know.

The boutique lasted most of the day and was well attended by vendors and customers. I have to confess that I wouldn't have recognized an Angels player even if one had shown up. (It could happen...football great Rosie Greer was a quilter, or so my husband, Brian, tells me). (Update here is that Bri was mistaken...Rosie Greer did needlepoint.) However, I know that my baseball fanatic husband would have spotted any baseball players in attendance and, based on the fact that he showed about as much activity as a dog sleeping by the fireplace on a cold night, I think I'm safe to say that no players dropped by. I do think, though, that the Angels could benefit from some of the healthy snacks and treats in my book! If one of them got a copy of my book--we could swap autographs! Bri says a signed ball for a signed cookbook sounds like a good trade to him.

I spent several hours signing my new gluten-free, dairy-free & refined sugar-free cookbook, Delightfully Free and talking to people about the alternative healthy ingredients I use in my recipes to make them surprisingly healthy, even though they look and taste like decadent off-limit splurges! I brought samples of my Black Bean Brownies and tried to surprise as many as I could by waiting until after they tasted the brownie to let them know that the main ingredient was an entire can of black beans. Most people thought that my brownies tasted even better than the ones with all the white sugar and white flour. "You're kidding me! You put black beans in here!?... I can't believe that there's no refined sugar in this recipe!" and "These are delicious!!" were frequent comments.

The basket was full of brownies when we arrived, but it was empty by the time we left.

Next weekend I will be back in Santa Barbara at my new favorite spot...Savoy Cafe & Deli. It's located at 24 Figueroa Street, just west of State Street. Savoy features delicious organic fare, including some gluten free and some dairy free/vegan dishes and a great atmosphere. I'll tell you more in my next post.

~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes.

A Raving Endorsement

I have been blessed to hear the responses by my family and friends to my new cookbook, Delightfully Free. I am especially gratified by the review by a very dear friend I have known since college.

Her name is Lori Alexander and she writes a popular blog for women called Always Learning.  She recently wrote a post about my cookbook.  I have reposted it for you to read ~

As you may have noticed, I don't use this blog to sell many things. However, I just received my copy of Delightfully Free in the mail yesterday and it is amazing!

Tracy and I went to college together. Ever since I have known her, whatever she puts her mind to doing, she does it extremely well. She definitely has perfectionist tendencies. Well, she has poured the last two years of her life into this cookbook and it shows.

It is hard cover with a spiral binding inside so the pages turn easily. All the pictures are beautiful and she is an incredible cook. I know. I have eaten her food many times. Every single recipe is tried and tested. Like I said, she is a perfectionist and this book shows it.

If you are wondering what to give someone for Christmas, this would make a great gift. Even if they don't have to eat gluten free, they will still love these recipes. Her husband doesn't have to eat that way but he loves her food.

She made her recipes so everyone would like them. If you are interested, just click here to order. They get it out right away so you will get it in a few days. Browse around their website also if you want to see more pictures of her yummy food. She also has a wonderful blog full of lots of good healthy tips.

Thank you so much, Lori, for your kind words.  The Eggnog Bread Pudding With Rum Sauce pictured above is absolutely delicious and, need I say again, it is gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free!  It is one of many perfect holiday recipes from my cookbook.  There is still plenty of time to order my book for Christmas!

~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes.

You can buy Delightfully Free and Even More Delightfully Free on my website, www.delightfullyfree.com or directly at this link: https://squareup.com/market/delightfully-free
Your signed books always come with free shipping. We do not sell on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or any other internet sites.

Christmas Boutique in Anaheim, California

I know most of you can't just hop in the car and be in Anaheim, California this Saturday, December 8th. But, if you are in the area, you might consider dropping in on the Cornerstone Church's annual Christmas Boutique.  I will be there selling and signing my book, Delightfully Free. I would love to meet you and chat awhile about healthy food. Here are all the particulars for the Boutique:

~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes.

You can buy Delightfully Free and Even More Delightfully Free on my website, www.delightfullyfree.com or directly at this link: https://squareup.com/market/delightfully-free

Your signed books always come with free shipping. We do not sell on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or any other internet sites.

Black Bean Brownies

Author's Note: This recipe has been reworked as a result of my Second Edition of Delightfully Free which removes agave nectar from the book. The Second Edition resulted from my discussions with hundreds of health practitioners (most of whom carry Delightfully Free as a resource for their patients), as well as thousands of very knowledgeable natural food retailers and consumers. Over the course of these discussion and exchanges of ideas, I noticed a growing consensus that better choices are now available for low-glycemic natural sweeteners than agave nectar which is used in the recipe below. 

Because my goal is to create new recipes and recreate old favorites in the most delicious and healthy way possible, and after looking into the issue myself, I decided to rework just over 50 recipes from Delightfully Free to eliminate agave nectar. I plan to post the new Black Bean Brownie Recipe at my web site, www.delightfullyfree.com in the near future. In the meantime, if you are interested in healthy gluten, dairy and refined sugar-free eating, I would encourage you to purchase the new and improved Second Edition of Delightfully Free at www.delightfullyfree.com  

I wish you health & Joy,
Tracy 

Everywhere I go, I meet people who want to eat healthy. In the past, "healthy" meant bland and boring. But what if those healthy dishes tasted delicious, even indulgent, yet were, in fact, extremely healthy and beneficial? That is the bottom line of my new cookbook, Delightfully Free. 

Really, the proof is in the pudding...or, in this case, let's just say the proof is “in the brownies.” 

Over and over again, as people bite into one of my chewy chocolate brownies, their response goes something like  “This brownie is delicious! I can't believe it's good for me!” Or, “Oh my gosh, did you say that there is no refined sugar in this brownie?” To which, I happily reply “Nope, no refined sugar, but there is a whole can of black beans in there!”  It is at this point that many people exclaim “I want my friend to try one of these! She'd never guess what's in them!” It has been really fun and exciting to see people love a recipe, and LOVE the fact that the recipe is completely healthy.

While I can't offer samples here on my blog, I can give you this delicious Black Bean Brownie recipe which, really, is an even better treat because you'll get to see how easy they are to make and how you can bake and cook gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free foods that are delicious, just like these brownies.

The brownies are a great example of how the GF, DF and sugar-free recipes found in Delightfully Free truly taste great, are easy to prepare and, thanks to their awesome health benefits, far outshine the “traditional” versions. The main ingredient found in my Black Bean Brownies really is an entire can of black beans. Next major ingredient, you ask? That would be eggs, another healthy and whole food. Then, instead of loading up with bleached, refined white flour (which is no longer a food, but a health hazard), these brownies have absolutely no flour of any kind. And of course with typical brownies, there is the issue of using all that refined white sugar. But my brownies don’t have that issue because I never use it. Instead, all of the recipes in my cookbook use only natural sweeteners. My brownies only have about 9g of unrefined, completely natural sugar per serving (for comparison, consider that a medium-sized apple has about 16g of natural sugar*), and unlike typical brownies, can be enjoyed without the negative effects of refined, processed sugar on the body. Also, where else will you find a brownie that delivers about 3.2g of protein and 2g of fiber while tasting as delightful as mine do? ;)

Imagine the looks on the faces of your family and friends when you put a plate full of them out and say, “Have as many as you like! They’re good for you!”

Want the recipe? Here it is:

Black Bean Brownies
Makes 24 

2   large eggs

1   15 oz can black beans, rinsed well using a wire strainer, and drained on a paper towel
1    Tbsp water

1/3  cup grapeseed oil

¼   tsp sea salt

2    tsp vanilla

¾   cup coconut palm sugar

¼   cup agave nectar
¾   tsp liquid stevia
½   tsp xanthan gum
¾   cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1    tsp baking soda

1½ tsp aluminum-free, gluten-free baking powder
 ½  cup chopped toasted almonds or walnuts
2/3 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks, optional**

Preheat oven to 350°. Brush or spray a 9x13 inch pan with grapeseed oil. In a blender or food processor, blend the eggs for 10 seconds, then add the beans and blend for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the blender with a silicone spatula as needed.

Next, add all remaining ingredients except for the chocolate chips or chunks, and nuts, if desired. Process 2-3 minutes until all is thoroughly blended. Stir in the chocolate chips or chunks and nuts, if desired. Pour the batter into the pan. Sprinkle with additional nuts, if desired, and bake 16 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

**Some chocolate options include Chocolate Dream Semi-Sweet Baking Chips, Endangered Species All-Natural Dark Chocolate Bars, Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Mini Chips, Equal Exchange Organic Very Dark Chocolate Bars, Sunspire Organic Bittersweet Chocolate Chips or Love Street Organic Coconut Crystal Chocolate Bars. The bars should be cut into small bits by using the point of a sharp knife, working on a cutting board.

~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes.

You can buy Delightfully Free and Even More Delightfully Free on my website, www.delightfullyfree.com or directly at this link: https://squareup.com/market/delightfully-free
Your signed books always come with free shipping. We do not sell on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or any other internet sites.

Recipe Roundup

Book Signing in an Unlikely Place

 I continue to be surprised by the usual places I find people interested in eating gluten free. And, more and more, those people are thrilled to find that my book, Delightfully Free, is also dairy free and refined sugar free. 

My husband came home from a professional baseball game earlier this year and told me that there was a gluten free restaurant at the stadium. Wow, that's progress! I'll bet that gluten free beer will not be far behind. In fact, serving gluten free food at stadiums is becoming a trend. My husband found his at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim where they serve both gluten-free hot dogs and gluten-free beer. (Incidentally, a baseball fan named Kim Barry, who suffers from Celiac disease toured baseball stadiums last summer and she ranked Angel Stadium as the closest to hitting a "home run" with her. She ranked it a "triple" for its gluten free offerings.)

Wow, did I digress. I'm talking about baseball (during football season no less), while actually wanting to make the point that healthy eating is starting to become mainstream.

So, here's what I started out to say. I will be selling and signing my cookbook, Delightfully Free, at the holiday boutique of a very popular Southern California quilting store. I will be at the Orange Quilt Bee which is located at 628 E Katella Avenue in Orange, California. I'm excited to be one of the presenters at the Quilt Bees' annual Holiday Boutique which is this Saturday, December 1st, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. I will bring my Black Bean Brownies for everyone to sample. 

Maybe I was thinking of Angel Stadium because it is located on the same street, a mere 2 and a half mile drive west of the Quilt Bee. And who knows, maybe I'll be signing books at Angel Stadium some day!! ; )

I hope to see you this Saturday!

~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes. 



                                                                  

Gluten-Free Reality Show?

Yesterday, I received in the mail a very cute hand-made card from an out-of-state friend. She obviously has a talent in the art of cartoon illustration!

She entitled her card:

I love the little muffin trees and the care-free muffin flying a kite in the background!  While I doubt that this cute, happy little muffin will become the next reality show sensation, I do think that this card sends a message creatively and cleverly.  I especially like how happy and energetic the gluten-free muffin looks compared to her gluten-laden friend who apparently just polished off a bag of chips and is looking a tad "round"!


~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes.

Thanks to you!

 

I hope everyone had a blessed and restful Thanksgiving. I'd like to take a moment and thank each of you for reading my blog and supporting my new book. I am very touched by the outpouring of love, support and encouragement. My hope is that you have benefited as well. Perhaps you even included some recipes from my gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook, Delightfully Free, on your Thanksgiving table for the first time this year. The thought of that brings a smile to my face.

Courtesy of the book, our family dined on these traditional Thanksgiving selections, among others: Herbed Turkey Dressing, Glazed Yams with Cranberries, Harvest Pumpkin Bread, Orange Cranberry Sauce and Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Topping. I'm happy to report that everyone enjoyed the meal and no one fell asleep in their Pumpkin Pie as some used to do following the old traditional menu, packed with white flour, laced with hydrogenated fats, and loaded with white refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup. We actually left the table happy, satisfied and with a clean conscience! What a Delight!

~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes. 



                                                                  

 

Thanksgiving "by the Book"

Oops, I got caught up in the busyness of the season and nearly forgot to post my list of recipes from the book that you might consider preparing for your Thanksgiving table. They are all gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free and fabulous!  In fact, even if you don't make these recipes for Thanksgiving, they're also wonderful for the rest of the family gatherings that follow Thanksgiving. Of course, if you don't have the book yet, please consider ordering one--we'll get it out to you asap!

Here are some of the recipes from the book that are especially fitting for any holiday-themed party:

Main Dishes: Festive Pumpkin Stew or Holiday Cranberry Chicken.

Festive Pumpkin Stew

Holiday Cranberry Chicken

Sides & Treats: Glazed Yams with Cranberries, Herbed Turkey Dressing, Orange Cranberry Sauce, Garlic Mashed Cauli, Molasses Stuffed Acorn Squash, Orange Pecan Brown Rice,  Creamy Brown Rice Risotto with Mushrooms, Asparagus with Creamy Garlic Sauce, Quinoa with Dried Cherries & Pistachios, Chickpea Salad, Creamy Carrot Soup, Layered Herbs & Cream, Lentil Walnut Tapenade, Spicy Cafe Nuts, and Hot Fruit Compote.

Herbed Turkey Dressing & Glazed Yams with Cranberries

Molasses Stuffed Acorn Squash & Orange Pecan Brown Rice

Creamy Carrot Soup

Breads & Baked Goods: Pumpkin Spice Muffins, Harvest Pumpkin Bread, Cornbread, Seeded Quick Bread, Rosemary Rolls, and Banana Chocolate Chip Bread.

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Seeded Quick Bread

Desserts: Pumpkin Pie, Eggnog Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce, Orange Cranberry Crumble, Cranberry Date Bars, Raisin Squares, Shortbread, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Decadence Pie, Healthy Hot Cocoa, Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels and--the last recipe in the book--Tracy's Delights.

Harvest Pumpkin Pie

Eggnog Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce

I hope I've gotten you in the mood for some major holiday cooking and baking, and that this special time of year will be a blessing to you and yours.


~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes.

Book Signing at Lassens in Ventura, California

In case you're in the area and want to stop by to say hello, I am going to be signing my gluten-free, dairy-free & refined sugar-free cookbook at the Lassens in Ventura, California from 10:00 AM to about 4:00 PM on Saturday November 24th. I'm planning to bring samples of my Black Bean Brownies for all to try. Lassens should have plenty of books available in case you don't have a copy yet, and of course, you will have come to just the right place to gather all of the ingredients you need to make just about any of my recipes.

I'm really looking forward to being at Lassens again and having another chance to explore that enormous Bulk Food section they have. Remember, it looked like this:



The Ventura Lassens Market is located at 4071 E. Main Street. I hope to see you there!

~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes. 

Delightfully Free is in Lassens Markets!

Lassens in Ventura, CA

What a great market Lassens is!! They do it right when it comes to organic, natural, healthy produce and products. Little wonder, since they've been doing it this way since 1971 when Hilmar & Oda Lassen opened the first of an eventual 11 Lassens in Camarillo, California. In addition to the original location in Camarillo, Lassens has markets in these Southern California locations: Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Simi Valley, Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, Los Feliz, Bakersfield and their newest store in Fresno.

I am so honored and grateful that Lassens is carrying Delightfully Free. It's just the place where I'd want my book to be available. And...here it is on display at the Ventura Store which I visited on my way back from my book signing at Savoy Cafe & Deli in Santa Barbara.

So, now you can not only buy the book at Lassens, but, depending on the size of the Lassens you're in, you can purchase most and usually everything you need to get started on the recipes. Their aisles seem to be bursting with gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free ingredients. They sell most of them in pre-packaged containers, but, if you like to shop bulk, take a look at what the Ventura market has to offer:

Bulk Food Section at Lassens in Ventura, CA

Now THAT'S a bulk foods section. My gosh, I couldn't even fit it all in frame! Looking up and seeing this was like rounding the corner on a mountain trail and seeing a Redwood!

It is such a good feeling knowing that a store with Lassens' standards and approach to healthy eating is proudly carrying Delightfully Free. I am talking with them about doing some book signings at a couple of their stores and, when something gets scheduled, I will be sure to let you know. I'd really enjoy meeting and talking with you.

If you haven't been to a Lassens, have a little fun and go to one. I bet you'll find some great products you bring home with you! Their stores in Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Bakersfield and Fresno have great delis and eating areas where you can get breakfast, lunch or dinner. They're closed on Sundays.

~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes.

Book Giveaway at Nutrition Plus Wellness Center in Tustin, CA

One of the things I'm very pleased about is the number of nutritionists and wellness centers that are carrying Delightfully Free. I plan to mention some of them in the future and give you links, but I thought I'd start by mentioning one that is doing something fun. That would be Nutrition Plus Wellness Center, located at 250 El Camino Real in Tustin, California. 

They are having a contest to win a copy of Delightfully Free signed by me and my photographer, Chelsea Armstrong. The winning entry will be draw on November 19, 2012. 

Dr. Wendell runs this facility and she is very health and nutrition conscious as you might expect from a certified nutritionist with over 20 years experience. Her Nutrition Plus Wellness Center is one of the largest nutrition practices in Orange County, California and she boasts a client base in the thousands. As you can see from the photo above, Nutrition Plus has an extensive inventory of supplements and health products for their patients in their very own Health Store section. In addition to her professional credentials, Dr. Wendell is caring and passionately interested in helping her patients on the road to good health.

Dr. Wendell

The whole staff is helpful and friendly. Based on the enthusiastic reaction they had to the Black Bean Brownies I brought in, I'm also thinking they're pretty knowledgeable about great tasting, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free food. ; )

The Whole Crew

If you're in the greater southern California area, you may want to look into her practice and what they can offer. By the way, in case your organization ever needs a good speaker on an important subject--our health--keep Dr. Wendell in mind as that is one of her many talents.

If your organization would be interested in carrying Delightfully Free, Please contact me through my website at www.delightfullyfree.com

~Tracy

About Delightfully Free: Delightfully Free is a gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free cookbook of 141 recipes. It includes delicious resources for autism, Celiac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, obesity and just plain healthy living. It contains 114 color photographs, 114 vegetarian or vegetarian compatible recipes, and 103 vegan or vegan compatible recipes.