It is once again time to report back with an update on new special diet books, and I am happy to report that the options keep on coming. Since there are an increasing number to choose from (especially in categories like vegan and gluten-free), I have opted to shorten our quarterly post to just the highlights, our "top five" if you will. Some of these books I have had a chance to review myself while others made my list due to their high marks from other top reviewers.

To see other new books in 2010, visit the following posts:

• What’s New for the First Quarter of 2010
• What’s New for the Second Quarter of 2010

And now, in no particular order, the Go Dairy Free "top five" new book list for July through September of 2010:

I have been a fan of Cybele Pascal’s since her first cookbook, but since releasing her second book in late 2009, The Allergen-Free Baker’s Handbook, Cybele has taken her presence in the food allergy community to another level. In early September, Cybele and her Broadway star husband, Adam Pascal, joined the ranks of famed chef Ming Tsai and country star Trace Adkins as Ambassadors Who Care for the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN).

As a part of her dedication to the cause, Cybele and her family will be leading “Team LA” in FAAN’s Walk for Food Allergy in Los Angeles on Oct. 24. She also plans to walk in Chicago on Oct. 17th. At both Walks she will also be autographing copies of her latest book.

Keeping partnerships on her agenda, Cybele has also teamed up with Enjoy Life Foods to create a new e-cooking show, Eat Freely with Cybele ...

When I first heard about Vegan Unplugged, I had never really thought about the potential use of “A Pantry Cuisine Cookbook and Survival Guide.” These days there are oodles of vegan cookbooks on the market, yet I am amazed when ones such as this one still manage to carve a new niche. Vegan Unplugged is in fact so useful, that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to my non-vegan comrades too.

So what are its uses?

• Preparing for Emergencies (earthquakes, hurricanes, power outages)
• Road Trips
• Hotel Stays (on a budget or a special diet with limited kitchen supplies)
• Camping Cuisine
• College and Dorm Room Cooking
• Uncooks (you know who you are)
• Being Resourceful with an Out of Commission Kitchen (Boy could my aunt and uncle have used this when they were living out of their basement and eating out every single night as their entire house was remodeled!)
• An Empty Fridge and No Desire to Go Grocery Shopping (oh this happens all too often, doesn’t it?)

These are the obvious uses, but I found one more use …

Q: Susan - In about 4 weeks I will be meeting my future lovely daughter-in-law. I just discovered she has a serious dairy allergy and deals with it fine. But I am planning an engagement party and want to do a lot of the cooking and baking myself. I am learning a lot from your book about reading labels and see that I have to be careful not to use foods that "share equipment with milk products," so I couldn't help but wonder...does this mean I need to ditch all my own baking pans, mixing pans and such? Or is it okay as long as I wash thoroughly and am careful with the products I use? This may sound silly, but I am new to this, and the last thing I want to do is send my future "new daughter" to the hospital!

A: Alisa - This is actually an excellent question, and one I am sure will arise in many households as people entertain friends and family members throughout the holiday season. First, there are a couple of things to consider ...