REVIEW: MY DARLING LEMON THYME BY EMMA GALLOWAY

MY DARLING LEMON THYME

Author: Emma Galloway
Harper Collins Publishers Aus RRP $39.99
Review: Monique Mulligan

Emma Galloway believes that everyone can benefit from “eating less wheat, meat and dairy in their diet” – although she was brought up vegetarian, the trained chef had a huge learning curve when she had children who turned out to have food allergies. Working as a chef no longer seemed hard, when compared to finding foods the family could handle without allergy flare-ups. In 2010 she started a blog, My Darling Lemon Thyme, “as a place to share gluten-free vegetarian recipes, stories and tips on organic gardening” and she has just released a cookbook with the same name, reflecting her philosophy that “natural, whole food should be flavoursome, fun and easy to prepare”. The name caught my eye first, but a closer look revealed a cookbook I knew would find a welcome home in my kitchen.

The book is both a collection of about 100 recipes and stories from Emma’s life and kitchen. It’s a beautifully presented cookbook – visually pleasing and taste bud stimulating. All the recipes are vegetarian and gluten free, which for me is not a necessity, but offers some excellent alternatives for when I feel the family needs something different. In our house, most foods are made from scratch and we tend to eat what’s seasonal, but I’m yet to win over everyone with ingredients like freekeh, quinoa and kale (they have been eating carrot and chia muffins and chocolate balls made from dates, nuts and cacao nibs, though). I think that may change with a few of the recipes I’ve highlighted for the menu in coming weeks.

The book starts with a comprehensive guide to filling the pantry with good-quality ingredients. Like Emma, we avoid processed foods so the pantry is stocked with a big range of ingredients, but Emma goes a few steps further because of the need to consider allergies. I was surprised to read that she has up to 15 different gluten-free flours in her pantry … I didn’t even know there were that many! If you’re considering gluten-free, I think you’ll like Emma’s approach.

Here’s a list of the recipes that caught my eye and will be added to the family menu:

• Nut porridge
• Roasted rhubarb with orange yoghurt
• Blueberry and banana breakfast muffins
• Chocolate date bliss balls
• Chewy cranberry, millet and pistachio bars
• Raspberry, dark chocolate and pistachio brownies
• Dark chocolate coconut bites
• Crispy pancakes

Notice a theme here? The sweet theme? Actually, while these are the recipes I’m fairly certain the kids will love, there are more that I know Blue Eyes and I will try, like:

• Carrot, cumin and red lentil soup
• Red lentil dhal
• Sweetcorn and basil fritters

There’s also a lovely range of teas, herbal drinks and smoothies to choose from, as well as gluten-free breads and pastries.

If tasty and inspiring wholefood is what you’re looking to increase in your diet, My Darling Lemon Thyme has got you covered. As for me, I’m ready to get into the kitchen!