ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

THERE ARE MANY people to thank for their generous gifts of support and assistance with this book. I want to begin with my family at the Whole Foods Market in Gig Harbor, Washington. Bruce Winfrey and Nancy Moffitt were incredible taste testers and an invaluable source of support during the development of this book. I thank you both very much for your loving kindness and honest opinions.

There were taste testers from every walk of life involved in this book, those who have no interest in health foods or veganism, and those who have a vested interest in eating a healthy, gluten-, dairy-, and egg-free diet. There were those who indeed are vegans, and others who live with food allergies. Even strangers, who happened to be at the Whole Foods Market when I was dropping off samples, offered to be taste testers. Not only did everyone agree that the recipes were great, but those who never ate gluten-free, vegan food said they would choose to make these recipes for their families because they were so chock-full of taste and texture. My sincere thanks to all of you.

I also want to thank Dara Morgan for her hard work typing my recipes from scraps of paper ranging from torn-off envelopes to three recipes written on a tablet sideways! Not only did she help type the recipes so you could all enjoy them, she tested them as she typed. You rock, Dara! Kathy Cseke, thank you so much for your excellent editing skills. I appreciate you taking the time to read the opening sections as well as the recipes and for providing excellent suggestions and improvements. I am very grateful to Katie McHugh at Marlowe and Company for all of her editing work and patience with my very hectic schedule. Thank you, Barb, for writing the introduction to this book. You have been a guiding light for me, and I am grateful for your contributions to all of my cookbooks. Special thanks to Lewis Perkin for permissions to use his Yam Enchiladas with Pomegranate recipe.

To Carol Dudley, my best friend, you have always been the calm in the storm for me, the person who reminds me that in breathing in, I am. I live in gratitude for our friendship.

I also want to acknowledge my mom for gifting me with her passion, her creative energy, and her love of life.

I would like to thank the following people for being my taste testers: Cary Perkins, Barb Schiltz, Sally Priest, Sheila Quinn, Dara Morgan, Marcia Doran, James Traub, Zack Rosenbloom, Liz Merrit, Debbie Freisen, Maggie Hagler, Jim O’Brien, Terry O’Brien, Jeffrey Fors, Jessie Bjorklund, Rory O’Brien-Berthiaume, Sam Burkhart, Mike and Steve Burkhart, Stephanie Ann, Anna Columbini, ND, the staff at the Peninsula Naturopathic Clinic in Gig Harbor, Paul Reilly, ND, and his staff, the entire staff at the Functional Medicine Research Center in Gig Harbor, Daniel and Holly Roso, Chris Holts, Jen, Skylar, Zane, and Brad Lantz, Brent Holbrook, and Dan Lukaczer, who advised me to add more nuts to the peanut butter cookies!

I would also like to acknowledge those who provided tremendous encouragement and support along the way, including my sons, Jeff and Rory, who are a constant source of love and joy, my dad and brothers, Jessie Bjorklund, Connie Harrington, Kathy Granger, Pat Bujacich, Karen McDonnell, and my dear friend Stephanie Ann.

 

Thank you all with love and gratitude,

 

SUSAN