GIVEAWAY: GLUTEN-FREE CUPCAKES COOKBOOK BY ELANA AMSTERDAM

Here's the first giveaway of the month, a cookbook by gluten-free guru Elana Amsterdam!

If you'd like the chance to receive a free copy of this extraordinary book for yourself,

please leave a comment below telling me you've LIKED my facebook page,GlutenfreefromNYC.

I think of Elana Amsterdam as the queen of glutenfree blogging. Her site, Elanas Pantry is full of information and activity and most of all, HEALTH! So what's a food writer such as Elana doing writing a cookbook exclusively about one of the country's most popular guilty pleasures, the cupcake? In "Gluten-Free Cupcakes," published by Celestial Arts, has she left her healthy ways behind for these usually sinful treats? Hardly!

The cupcakes in this book, because of Elana's decision to omit grains and use alternatives to sugar in her recipes, are higher in protein and lower in carbs than you'd expect from cupcakes as gorgeous as these. The book contains fifty recipes made with almond and/or coconut flours, and those flours are Elana's secret health weapon. But the luscious photography not have you thinking of health, but rather, will have you wanting to pour a cup of tea or glass of milk ASAP to accompany these these beautiful cuties!

The book begins with a helpful chapter on ingredients and equipment, and provides generous tips to success with the gluten-free baking of these cupcakes. There's a whole chapter devoted to frostings and toppings which will most likely expand your repertoire in that area (I know it did mine). Special Occasion, Fruity, Classic, Warm and Spiced, Chocolate (yes, a whole chapter!) and Savory are the types of cupcakes covered here (are there any other kinds? I doubt it!).

I chose to make a cupcake that appealed to my rebellious nature. In a book of mostly sweets, I chose the savory Scallion Goat Cheese Muffin. As a cheese fanatic, I took care to make these in miniature muffin pans, hoping they'd disappear more slowly if I did. No surprise, all it took was a friend and myself getting a taste of these tiny treasures and they were gone in a flash. The recipe was clear, easy, and delicious. I'm going to love making my way through this gem of a book! And you might be able to do the same--for free! Here are the details:

If you'd like the chance to receive a free copy of this extraordinary book for yourself, please leave a comment below telling me you've LIKED my facebook page, GlutenfreefromNYC.

Winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries received through February 29, 2012, and will be notified by email (don't forget to include yours, either in your comment here, or in an email to glutenfreeveg@gmail.com).

One entry per household, please. Void where prohibited. Shipping only to continental US, excluding Alaska. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Full disclosure: This giveaway's product was provided free of charge by the company referred to in the post above. I received a review copy, however, this is not a paid post and all the opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Check back frequently in February, Gluten-Free Giveaway Love Month,

for the chance to win cookbooks, coupons and other food-related gifts.