Lauren graduated from The California Culinary Academy and embarked on a culinary career which led her to being a Pastry Chef. Some of the places she worked include: La Folie Restaurant, Hyatt Resorts, Marriott Resorts, Fairmont Hotel, Bally’s Hotel and Casino, Wente Brother’s Winery, San Francisco Chronicle and Veggie Life Magazine. She also cooked for 4 US Presidents and 1 US Senator while she was with the Hyatt in Indian Wells.
She went onto teach culinary school in California after working on the East Coast and Switzerland. Then, she returned to college to earn a Psychology degree where she discovered and enhanced her deep desire to help people. She was converting recipes for herself and sharing them with her classmates….when they suggested she write a cookbook! And, this is how her cookbook, No Wheat No Dairy No Problem came to be-well, with lots more work and time!
She was diagnosed with food allergies in college and converted, created and tested recipes without wheat, dairy and refined sugar using familiar, healthy ingredients including: Coconut Milk, Almond Milk, Oat Flour, Grapeseed Oil, Olive Oils, vegan Earth Balance, Agave Nectar and Pure Maple Syrup, and offers alternatives for these ingredients such as Nut Milk, Hemp Milk, Rice Milk, non-hydrogenated shortening or coconut oil. She does NOT use xanthan gum or guar gum which is what sets her cookbook apart from all other gluten-free/wheat- free cookbooks.
Recipes include: Chili, Meatballs, Bourguignon, Stroganoff, Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Cream Sauce, Pot Pie, Fried Chicken, and many desserts including: Puddings, Ice Cream, Cakes, Cheesecake, Buttercream, Cookies, Cream Puffs and Chocolate Truffles! In addition, a few of my favorite recipes such as: Lemonade, Sautéed Rainbow Chard, Roasted Carrots and Parsnips, Hummus and Raspberry Sauce. Some delicious Vegan recipes included are: Breads, Mushroom Pot Pie, Vegetables, Beverages, Cakes, Cookies, Pies and more!
Her writing style aims to have clear directions and educational, beyond cooking, with glimpses into my personality and life. Inspired recipes from my family to famous chefs, helpful hints, ingredient information, resources and websites including her own blog site all contribute to a valuable resource for everyone with food allergies, sensitivities, limited diets and everyone else who is seeking something new!
Lauren has been featured on ABC News Live in Chicago and Sacramento cooking from my book. See videos under TV Appearances Tab.
All recipes on No Wheat No Dairy No Problem are Laurens own creations – and her intellectual property, all rights reserved and registered with the United States Copyright Office. Please do not publish her work without her consent.
Lauren,
I am new to eating clean and am curious as to why you don’t use xanthan and guar gum? Also, without having browsed your cook book yet, are you soy free as well? That’s another thing I am looking to stay away from as well.
Thanks!
It is a microorganism/bacteria. I believe that too much of it is not a good thing. I have devoloped a way to bake without it, so why use it if it is not needed? I feel the less packaged products we use the better our health will be. You can try my recipes for free listed on this blog and order my cookbook for high protein, high fiber, low carbohydrate, dairy-free recipes. You can use Coconut Palm Sugar in all my recipes for low glycemic index which is much easier on the body and won’t cause sugar spikes and crashes. Be Well and Thrive, Lauren
Hello Lauren,
I think your cookbook is a great idea. I only wish someone would publish a cookbook like this that is for vegetarians.
I too have been diagnosed, although very late in life with food allergies. Dairy, wheat, soy, yeast, canola oil, almonds, tomatoes, kidney, lima & pinto beans.
my diet basically consists of vegetables, beans, lentils, rice, quinoa, nuts and seeds. If I don’t abstain from these foods, I become sick. I am a born and raised vegetarian, so meat, chicken and fish are not an option for me. As it is a spiritual thing. I have vegetarian and vegan cookbooks galore, but not much with great “vegetable” recipes. The ones I do find are very basic and boring. Or there will be an ingredient which I cannot eat.
I am sooooo bored with food. Does your cookbook have any “main entree” recipes with vegetables, beans, grains and such?
D in the OC
Yes, my cookbook does have things like Mushroom Pot Pie. Pureed Veggie Soup, lots of tasty vegetables. I am dedicated to teaching people to cook and season veggies so they taste fabulous. That is why I added that section into my cookbook-although they don’t usually contain much wheat and butter can be substituted for oil.
Some of the vegetarian dishes are Mushroom Pot Pie, creamed vegetables, Tempura(omit shrimp), Moussaka(omit Lamb and substitute mushrooms) Other main dishes that can be vegetarian are Chili-just omit the turkey/buffalo and add more beans. All my desserts and beverages are vegetarian and many are vegan!:) There is a great breakfast section too.
I think you will find that you can use most of the recipes in my cookbook. Hope you enjoy it and it brings some excitement into your cooking and eating!
Be Well, Lauren
See the Table of Contents Page on this blog
There is no soy in my recipes expect a few recipes that have an option of Non-GMO soy lecithin which was found in studies to be non-reactive for people with soy sensitivities! It is high in Vitamin B and helps break down belly fat and is a great emulsifier. You can also use Sunflower lecithin instead of soy.
Debi, there are many vegetarian recipes in my cookbook and I am in the proces of a 2nd book with more vegetarian recipes. Many of my recipes currently are easily made vegan or vegetarian. All the foods you cannot eat are not in my cookbook!
I think you will find it useful and hopefully helpful. I love the Mushroom Pot Pie and Stroganoff(make with mushrooms only for vegan dish), and all the vegan desserts taste like the real thing too! See my blog artilces on oil and main ingredients. All the best and happy cooking and eating.