Going Against the Grain: Italian Style! : A Gluten-Free Life Guide and Recipe Book for Staying Healthy and Eating Amazingly!

218 Pages·2014·7.95 MB·English

by  Nuccia Ardagna

Disclaimer
The information provided in this book is designed to provide helpful information
on the subjects discussed. This book is not meant to be used, nor should it be
used, to diagnose or treat any medical condition. For diagnosis or treatment of
any medical problem, consult your own physician. The publisher and author are
not responsible for any specific health or allergy needs that may require medical
supervision and are not liable for any damages or negative consequences from
any treatment, action, application or preparation, to any person reading or
following the information in this book. References are provided for
informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any websites
or other sources. Readers should be aware that the websites listed in this book
may change Copyright © 2014 Nuccia Ardagna All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-49922-243-2

Dedication
We dedicate this book with love to our incredible son, Gianluca. We hope he
remains in the course of eating well and enjoying all the yumminess our heritage
has to offer. We love you, son, and we want you to live forever! Soon…
Contents
Foreword - Dr. Peter Green
1 – My Journey with Celiac Disease
2 – So You DO Have A Problem with Gluten – What Now?
3 – What Does Going Gluten-Free Really Entail? Anything Else I Should Know?
4 – Recipes – Antipasti
5 – Recipes – Il Primo
6 – Recipes – Il Secondo
7 – Recipes – Contorni
8 – Recipes – Il Dolce
9 – Recipes – Bonus Section
10 – Resources
11 – interview with Bobbi Cohen
Acknowledgments
I have come a long way since my diagnosis with celiac disease and my journey
is truly unforgettable.
I was blessed to be surrounded by inspirational individuals and to them I owe
heartfelt thanks. Some through their support, some through their love, some
through their knowledge and some through all of the above, each with their own
special gift has contributed to make this book – my dream – a reality.
I want to thank my loving and supportive husband and son for being patient with
me while working hard on my computer. To my incredible son, Gianluca, I owe
an extra special thanks as it was he who came up with the idea to share our
traditional, delicious family recipes with the world.
My mom and dad, Anna and Antonio, who knew nothing of this disease but
were happy to learn with me and be supportive. My sister and brother, Marianna
and Stefano, for taking the time to learn and make delicious gluten-free recipes
on my account so that our traditional Sunday lunches were both safe and
delicious for me. The tradition continues! I love you all.
How can I forget my close friends? Geoff and Lisa Wong, and Christine Hall-
Acampora. You guys helped me get through my diagnosis by being loving and
supportive, and taught me much about gluten. Your friendship is truly real.
Laura Piccolo. I just had to include you. I’ve known you a long time but just
‘met’ you (we know how that makes sense) and I’m so glad I did. We have so
much in common and your successes and hard work have been nothing short of
inspirational for me. Thanks!
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Dr. Peter Green, Director, Celiac
Disease Center at Columbia University for honoring me with his valuable
contribution by providing the foreword.
A special thank-you as well to both Cynthia Beckman, Director of Development,
Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University and Suzanne Simpson, RD,
Nutritionist, Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University for their patience and
guidance and above all, enthusiastic encouragement and useful critique of my
work. Your advice and assistance are certainly appreciated. Thank you!
Grateful thanks as well to Dr. Michael Bensoussan, Gastroenterologist, who
finally put a name to my suffering and pain and led me to the road to recovery. It
certainly was a rocky start, but a great friendship developed. We both learned a
lot along the way!
I would also like to thank Alicia Dunams. Without your help and that of your
excellent team, this book would not have been possible.
Again, Gianluca, my love, thank you so much for being the idea and inspiration
behind this book. I love you mommy.
Last, but certainly not least, Jehovah, your strength through all of my difficult
and painful times has been a rock. I could not have gotten through any of it
without your love. Your love is truly a precious gift.
About the Author
Nuccia Ardagna loves to travel to the place of her roots: SICILIA! Being
Sicilian, she grew up with mamma, nonna and all her zie learning all the tricks of
the trade and creating DELICIOUS Italian food from scratch. When diagnosed
with celiac disease she was forced to learn new habits and, now, after trial and
error and experimenting, wants to share her exquisite culinary creations with
you. She IS a true Italian to the core.
Nuccia Ardagna is also a successful Corporate Sales Professional selling
solutions to Fortune 500 companies. Her resume includes careers most of us
only dream of, including flight attendant, professional model and a news anchor
for Tele-Italia. She is a devout wife, mother, friend and her passion for life,
living well and delicious food is evident by the passion she shares in her book.
Préface
Lorsque j’ai rencontré Nuccia pour la première fois, j’avais en face de moi
l’incarnation même de ce que je rencontre trop souvent en tant que médecin : la
souffrance. Je voyais là quelqu’un dont la vie quotidienne avait à ce point
changé, que l’existence même était devenue pénible. Quelqu’un dont la
condition sociale et professionnelle n’avait que trop souffert depuis des mois de
son état de malade. Quelqu’un qui ne voulait plus rire, sortir ou profiter de sa
vie, puisqu’elle était réduite à l’image que la société qui nous entoure lui
renvoyait : elle était malade. Mais elle ne savait pas de où ? De quoi ? Et surtout
pourquoi?
C’est donc initialement quelqu’un de tendu et de…allez…malheureux que
j’avais en face de moi. Et le jour du diagnostic, c’est moi et personne d’autre qui
fut le messager de mauvaise augure, celui qui a eu l’impossible mission de
mettre à nom sur la souffrance qui rongeait Nuccia : la maladie cœliaque. La
plus courante atteinte génétique digestive de nos sociétés modernes.
Un peu à l’instar des messagers de mauvaises nouvelles dans la Grèce antique,
c’est au début moi qui fut crucifié sur l’autel du gluten. Mais un médecin sert à
cela aussi; cristalliser les angoisses de ses patients, prendre soin du corps mais
aussi des âmes. Et quelle belle âme!
Car je dois bien avouer que quelques mois plus tard, ma stupéfaction fut totale
quand je revis Nuccia. Je pense avoir découvert ce jour-là qui elle était vraiment
: une femme belle, radieuse, joviale et énergique, croquant dans la vie comme on
croque dans un gâteau gluten free!
Mais surtout j’ai découvert un modèle de patient. Une femme pugnace, dont
l’annonce de la maladie a décuplé l’énergie de vie. Une femme qui a décidé de
vivre avec son handicap et de faire profiter la communauté de ses enquêtes, de
ses trouvailles et de ses astuces. Un formidable élan de philanthropie est né de ce