Have you met Tara Perillo from the blog Paleo Cajun Lady? I met Tara last year at Paleo FX and she is a sweet lady in a spitfire costume! Her new cookbook, AIP Paleo Cajun, is just like her, too! A delightful blend of sweetness and spice. Up until now, I was unfamiliar with traditional cajun food. Sure, I went to New Orleans with my husband years ago and we had some café au lait at Café du Monde. This was way before I started the autoimmune protocol. Her cookbook allowed me to widen my culinary horizon!
Who is Tara, the Cajun Lady? Tara was diagnosed with lupus and plaque psoriasis at the end of 2013. After a brief stint with a gluten free diet, she dove into the autoimmune protocol when Sarah Ballantyne published her book The paleo Approach. With the autoimmune protocol, Tara says, she was able to “knock chronic inflammation on it’s butt!” Even better, Tara has achieved remission and recently blogged about it! She had a hard time though, with the thought that she would never be able to enjoy her favorite Cajun foods from her childhood, ever again. That is why she created this cookbook featuring AIP recipes with a taste from her home, Louisiana.
If you are looking for something different and tasty at the same time, I would definitely recommend Tara’s new cookbook, AIP Paleo Cajun. With authentic bayou cuisine recipes like shrimp and okra gumbo, creamy beef mushroom sauce, chicken fricassee, shrimp boil, crabmeat stuffed mushroom casserole, crawfish étouffée, and cajun dirty rice, there is enough in this cookbook to wake up your taste buds!
Because fall is upon us, I was in the mood for something hearty and sweet. I selected the perfect dish: sweet potato coconut crisp. Heaven! It is supposed to be a side dish, but it tasted more like a dessert to me!
I also made made the red onion and lime chicken. The flavors were fantastic and the dish was so refreshing! Definitely a big hit at home with the family.
5 fun facts about Tara!
- She used to be a pageant girl. One of the titles she held was “Little Miss Cajun Queen”.
- Tara spent one year as a college professor, before deciding it was not the career for her!
- She studied various forms of martial arts and combat training for many years.
- Tara has been in the health and fitness field for 30 years!
- She is a certified herbalist, homeopath and acupuncturist.
Tara’s #1 tip for AIP beginners!
Just stick with it.
Healing is not going to happen overnight.
But, it does get easier the longer you’re on it.
And, when you start to feel better,
you’ll be happy you stuck with it.
Giveaway is over. The winner is comment #21: Eva! Congratulations 🙂
It will be very easy for you to enter this giveaway! Subscribe to my newsletter and leave a comment down below that you have done so. And if you have the time, let me know if you liked this cookbook review! That’s it! The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced on Tuesday, October 6, 2015. The winner will receive a digital copy of the AIP Paleo Cajun cookbook by Tara Perillo. Contest open worldwide. Good luck everyone!
Disclaimer: I was given a review copy of this book as well as a copy to give away, with no obligation. I’m 100% honest in my opinions. If I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t have written the review, nor hosted the giveaway.
Yum, I’d love this cookbook. Please sign me up for the contest. I’m already a subscriber. : )
I’m subscribed, and happy to be! Thanks for this opportunity. Your review was great…the combination of cajun (sweet, savory, and spicy) is very exciting!
I already subscribe to your newsletter. Your review makes me want this book!
I’m a subscriber! Thank you for your amazing blog, recipes, and AIP inspiration.
Already subscribed! The cookbook sounds awesome 🙂
I’m a subscriber and love your blog! The sweet potato coconut crisp looks scrumptious!
I’ve signed up!
I am a subscriber and have ulcerative colitis for 10 years, just starting reading information about paleo helping w autoimmune diseases , very interested in feeling exploring more. I would love to get the cookbook giveaway.
I’ve subscribed to your newsletter. This recipe looks delicious.
I’m already a newsletter subscriber! I think Tara’s new book sounds fantastic! My husband would especially enjoy these recipes because he loves all things spicy, and my everyday cooking, while satisfying, sometimes lacks depths of flavor due to my own personal food restrictions. I would love to see Tara’s take on Cajun cuisine!
I’m a subscriber!
I am already a newsletter subscriber. I am also 4 weeks in to the AIP and I feel I have lost a lot of flavors. When I read your review I got curious in the Cajun kitchen. Some new flavors to add….
Best regards
Birgitta
Good clear strong review. Really want to taste that Red Onion Lime Chicken. With so many Louisiana relatives, I know it will be delicious. Please enter me to win that great cookbook.
Subscribed! Being that I live inNew Orleans, this may be the one cookbook to get me 100% AIP!
I am already a subscriber and I can’t wait to learn how to make these incredible foods!
Looks like a fantastic collection of recipes!!!
This cookbook sounds so good. I’ve been signed up for awhile and really like the newsletter. Very informative and some good recipes.
I’m happy to be a subscriber. AIP Cajun too good to be real!
I’m already a subscriber and love seeing the new recipes and tidbits for us “AIPers”. I’m so intrigued with this new cookbook, yum!
I would love this cookbook. Cajun cooking is something I have missed being AIP. This would help put a new tool in the kitchen and my family would be so blessed. I am so thankful for your newsletter and find all the post to be very beneficial.
I am a subscriber. Thank You.
I am already a subscriber.
Remission?! That’s awesome! I’m from south MS, so you know I love me some Cajun food.
I’ve been subscribed for a while, and always enjoy hearing about new cookbooks and the great recipes you share!
Already subscribed to your newsletter. Would LOVE to get a copy of Tara’s cookbook. I’ve just (again) started the AIP and would love to have the additional resource in my kitchen. And thank you for your review. I love and truly appreciate your honesty.
I’m already a subscriber and I would love a chance to win this cookbook. I follow both you and tara on instagram and have loved following your journeys 🙂
I love this review! The little facts about Tara were great, my favorite part haha. And yes, I subscribed!
I’ a subscriber. I’d love to have this cookbook, as I need all the help I can get on my journey to wellness. Thank you.
I’m a subscriber! Thanks for the lovely giveaway. I can only imagine how flavorful and tasty the recipes are!
I have subscribed. This cookbook looks great, I can’t wait to check it out, it would be great to add some Cajun recipes to my regular rotation.
Great book review! Hope I win the book! I’m already a subscriber.
Subscribed! Would love a copy of this book 🙂
I’m a subscriber…love your recipes! I have no doubt that I’d love this cookbook. Please enter me to win a copy 🙂
Hope it has Crawfish/Shrimp Etouffee!!! My favorite when I lived in Louisiana. I’m a subscriber.
It does and it is good! I love her version of gumbo too.
I’m also a subscriber. I would love to get a copy of this book!
I am already a subscriber and love your blog. Such a good resource for healing! This cookbook looks exciting. Never thought Cajun cuisine could be AIP compliant with all the spiciness. Yum!
I’m missing the spice in my AIP life- I’ll have to check out her recipes! Thanks for the recommendation and giveaway.
I really want to go full AIP Paleo, but I cannot cook without a recipe. I have taken a few recipes from your site and have absolutely loved them. Thanks for posting and reviewing. I am on your mailing list.
I’ve been a subscriber for awhile now, and I love all the wonderful things you post! Looking to add another cookbook to my AIP repertoire, and excited to maybe win the newest one!
I heard about the contest via your email newsletter! My dad loved Cajun food so I will certainly have to check this cookbook out in his honor 🙂