Ania Catalano

www.aniacooks.com

Agave Recipes by Ania:
Fluffy Lemon Bars
Orange Pecan Granola
Watermelon Sorbet
Lemon Blueberry Oat Bran Muffins
Apple Streusel Coffee Cake
Cranberry Pear Crisp with an Almond Oat Topping
Pineapple Coconut Carrot Cake
Cream Cheese Frosting
Crispy Cocoa Almond Rice Treats
Triple Whammy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Power Breakfast Chia Seed Pancakes with Spiced, Caramelized Apples

Ania Catalano has been a natural foods chef, teacher and consultant for over 18 years. In 1989, after attending Dr. Anne Colbin’s Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts, she opened Sprouts — a natural foods market and café in Trumbull, CT — which eventually grew to be a 9,000 sq. ft. natural foods restaurant seating 75 customers.

When Ania discovered that she was hypoglycemic, she began searching for and experimenting with natural sweeteners. She discovered Agave nectar from Mexico in the mid-90s and found it to be the “ultimate sweetener” because it tasted delicious, worked wonders in dessert recipes, and most importantly, was an organic, low-glycemic wholesome sweetener that easily replaces refined sugar.

Ania sold Sprouts in 1999, and currently is chef/owner of Gourmet Wholefoods Catering, which emphasizes gourmet whole food renditions of classic European and ethnic world cuisines. Serving the metro NYC, Connecticut and New Jersey area, Gourmet Wholefoods Catering is known for creating memorable parties and events for discriminating palates.

In her free time, Ania loves to travel with her husband Joe (also a chef ) and Sofia; and sample a variety of interesting foods around

The Baking with Agave Nectar cookbook is a compilation of tried and true recipes tested over the years by Ania herself, restaurant customers, and by Ania’s most important critic - five-year old daughter, Sofia. Many recipes were developed as a way to provide healthy meals and snacks for a growing young girl.

In writing Baking with Agave Nectar, Ania wanted to accomplish three things:

To share information on the many healthful benefits of Agave nectar.
To provide truly delicious, healthy, whole food renditions of classic desserts along with unconventional and unique recipes.
To select recipes that are super-easy to make.

About the Cookbook, “Baking with Agave Nectar”

ania_chef Baking with Agave Nectar was written in response to years of encouragement and requests from Ania Catalano’s customers, students, friends and parents looking for dessert recipes that were healthful and delicious. None of the recipes in the book use refined sugar, but instead, rely on organic Agave nectar and whole grains to create gourmet quality baked goods.

For those who have not yet discovered delectable Agave nectar, you are in for a wonderful surprise! This low-glycemic sweetener is a revelation for diabetics, parents of young children, and anyone who wants to cut down on refined sugar but still enjoy sweet treats.

Baking with Agave Nectar contains more than 100 recipes for muffins, sweetbreads, cookies, cakes, ice creams and sorbets, pies and tarts, sauces and frostings, plus some unique “one of a kind” desserts. Many are gluten-free, vegan and low fat versions of old favorites – sure to please every palate and dietary requirement.

You can purchase Baking with Agave Nectar at Amazon.com, Barnes & Nobel, Borders, Waldenbooks, Ten Speed Press, and BooksaMillion.com.

Amazon.com | Booksamillion.com | TenSpeed.com | Random House

Below are reviews of Baking with Agave Nectar

Success Through Play Magazine
101 Cookbooks.com
Culinate.com
Washington Post
Girlawhirl
Wordpress
Fit Sugar
NY Sun
In Mamas Kitchen
Fete a Fete
Michael Ruhlman – Notes from the Food World
Slashfood
Food Candy – Where Foodies Meet
Altered Palates
Once Upon a Cookie

“Exploring the delicious range of Agave nectars has changed the way I think about sweetness. Ania’s book is a great place to find inspiration, and get to know the nuances of this unique, all-natural sweetener”. Heidi Swanson, author of Super Natural Cooking

“We all need better quality desserts, and cooking with Agave nectar – a clean, natural sugar – is a step in the right direction. Enjoy these wholesome treats.” Elson M. Hass, M.D. author of Staying Healthy with Nutrition

“What I like is that she’s taken on baked good classics — brownies, morning muffins, fruit pies, cake frosting — and reduces their glycemic load with this diabetic-friendly sweetener that also happens to be vegan.” Kim ODonnel – WashingtonPost.com

Tips for Cooking with Ohgave!

Ohgave! nectar comes in several varieties and each is easy to use in breakfasts, appetizers, entrees, desserts, smoothies, beverages,, and sauces. Experimentation and personal preference are key in determining which variety you like best.

Light: sweet, mild, buttery caramel flavor and good choice for delicate desserts, sauces and beverages.

Amber: sweet, medium intensity of caramel flavor suitable for desserts, sauces, savory dishes, and excellent straight from the bottle as a syrup.

In addition to being a versatile recipe ingredient, Ohgave! can be used straight from the bottle to sweeten teas, coffee, lemonade and other beverages, as well as a delicious topping for pancakes, waffles or your morning breakfast cereal. And it makes an awesome margarita!