A good cookbook is an escape – to a geographical place or culture, or more abstractly, to a sense of calm and nourishment.
Everyone eats and food is vital to our health and well being. Old adage aside, we really are, what we eat.
When my eldest daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2016, not only was I ignorant to the details of her condition, but I was entirely unprepared for its effect on our home, specifically the kitchen. As I came to quickly understand, for a diabetic, every bite of every meal is a reminder of the freedom lost to an illness, as diabetes is a chronic disease wholly-centered around food.
According to the CDC, 37 million people live with diabetes in the United States with 1.4 million Americans diagnosed annually. Additionally, another 96 million are prediabetic.
At some point, each and every one has struggled to navigate the constrictions of this disease. I know I did. Over time, my fear lead to research; anxiety to stirring; and what resulted after six years of sleepless nights monitoring blood sugar levels was an arsenal of delicious recipes fueling not only the body, but the soul.
I’m happy to announce For Good Measure will debut on bookshelves nationwide in 2024. The full-color, hardcover cookbook will feature the flavorful, layered food we all savor. However, unlike most “diabetic books,” the recipes are created with simple ingredients, no artificial sweeteners, or processed substitutes, while being naturally low in carbohydrates.
Recipes aside, the book also tells our story. Based in California, the food will be shot at our home & plated on San Francisco’s Heath Ceramics; produce & farm images will be shot at our local, nationally-revered Chinos Farm; and as the ocean plays an integral role in our lifestyle, we hope to capture its beauty. Finally Berkley-based, West Margin Press will bring the book to life and give it the wings to land in your local bookstore.
I’m hoping with my heart and hands For Good Measure will inspire you. Perhaps it will be the cookbook that captures your eye as you browse your favorite bookstore hungry and dreaming of the west coast.