This is a really beautiful cookbook, and a must have addition to your collection if you love to cook and are a fan of Martina McBride. The BEST thing about the book is all the personal stories she includes, closely followed by all the terrific pictures, many of Martina. There are pictures with every recipe, which I love--I really like to see how things are SUPPOSED to turn out, plus it's inspiration when trying to decide WHAT to cook. I also really like that Martina pulls music metaphors into the book, comparing trying new ingredients or spices or even recipes to trying a new instrument...or playing with a particular recipe and making changes to it on the fly as a "riff". I really enjoyed that. It really helped make the book feel personal and written by a music artist. Another little "musical" element: Each section of the book has a cover page photo that features a vinyl album with the appropriate label for the section. Sections include: Breakfast and Brunch, Cocktails and Appetizers, Salads, Soups and Sandwiches, Main Courses, Side Dishes, Desserts, Martina's Menu Mix/Favorites. There's also an Introduction from Martina, a section on Metric equivalents and an index. The photographs throughout the book are beautiful and I love that intermixed with the food pictures, we get pictures of Martina, her kitchen (presumably), etc. It's very warm and inviting, and almost feels conversational. The recipes are clearly and simply written; most include personal comments about Martina's feelings about the recipe, or favorite ways to serve it. Many also include what's she's calling an "Ad Lib" suggestions for how to modify the recipe or ways to change it up. Each section also includes a "Don't Knock it Til you try it recipe", which is a favorite recipe from Martina's family that's been passed down that maybe isn't the most logical sounding recipe or super healthy, but it tastes really good, and her family loves it. She talks about where it comes from and why they love it, and suggests the reader give it a try. There are a pretty wide variety of recipes here--Martina appears to enjoy a lot of different types of foods, I really liked that the recipes didn't stick to one genre of cooking. There are taco recipes, italian recipes, seafood recipes, southern recipes, traditional recipes...a lot of different things to try. Overall, I thought this was an excellent cookbook and I really enjoyed seeing this side of Martina McBride.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

There are a ton of celebrity cookbooks out there – Trisha Yearwood, Chrissy Tiegen, Valerie Bertinelli, Tiffani Thiessen, etc. – and although I start out skeptical, I’ve actually been pretty impressed with most of them. Country singer Martina McBride has a new cookbook called Martina’s Kitchen Mix coming out at the end of October and I was lucky enough to get a pre-release copy of it to review.

I was pleasantly surprised at the mix of recipes in the book, and one that especially caught my eye is this Quick-and-Easy White Bean and Baby Greens Stew (almost sounds like a song title, right?). I made it and really enjoyed it. It's a light garlicky broth with chunks of smoky ham (although you can make it vegetarian if you want), tomatoes, cannellini beans and wilted baby greens. Yum.

Quite a few of the recipes in Martina’s cookbook are basics that I already have in my recipe file (Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies, Fresh Apple Cake with Homemade Caramel Sauce, Hoppin’ John and surprisingly the old standby Velveeta cheese dip), but there are others I’m really looking forward to trying. I’ve tagged Smoked Gouda Pimiento Cheese, Very Green Broccoli Soup, Pumpkin Cornbread with Cinnamon-Honey Butter, and County Fair Orange Cake. This will be one celebrity cookbook worth having on my shelf!

I think there must be some kinda thing with country music singers putting out cookbooks...but I saw that Martina McBride had one coming out and I did get all excited. I kinda have a girl crush on her.



Steven Tyler ain't bad either..just saying.

Anyways, I asked and Netgalley said yes. So I did the happy dance. The only hard part? I cannot hardly do a decent cookbook review on one of those download only books from Netgalley. My fat butt was running back and forth from the kitchen to the computer and I completely had a meltdown.
That is not the cookbook's fault though.

I actually did like this one. There are a few recipes that are in every cookbook known to man but there are some that I couldn't wait to try.
Like these....

Her spaghetti and meatballs and brocolli and cauliflower salad.


The meatballs got messed up because I stirred the crap outta them. User error.
They were good but I kinda like my recipe for them better because I didn't like the addition of pork and veal. The boys loved them though...so I probably was wrong.
Now that salad? That stuff was sooooo dang good.

Then I went for the Chicken Tiki Marasala.


And now? We gonna try her stuffed poblano peppers and lasagna soup.

I need a copy of this one on hand.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review

A wonderful cookbook by one of my favorite country musicians! The recipes are easy to comprehend (I made the lasagna soup!), and the photos are brilliant and make the recipes come to life. The recipes have this wonderful ad-lib section where she talks. There are also "dont knock it until you try it" sections, that sound odd but probably taste great. Beautiful book and I can't wait to try more recipes!

I saw Martina cooking on a couple of morning shows and was impressed with her recipes and her cooking skills. She moved easily from prep to cooking, which a lot of home cooks do not. I was very pleased to find her cookbook. I love cookbooks that also entertain with stories of family life. Her book is definitely worth adding to any collection. I've tried several recipes already and have several more bookmarked to try in the future. Mix up your everyday menus with some of hers...you never know when you'll discover a new family favorite!

Martina's Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist For Real Life
By Martina McBride
Publication date 10-30-18
Oxmoor House

Martina McBride is best known for her country hits, but she grew up experimenting with her mother in the kitchen. The stories shared around the table were a family tradition Martina valued and loved. In this cookbook she shares some of those recipes, hoping to inspire others to become creative and unafraid to think outside the box when trying a recipe. Stunning photographs, over 100 easy to follow recipes, this would make a perfect gift for the holidays.

Some of my favorites Baked French Toast with Pecan Crumble; Grilled Shrimp with Chipotle Sauce and Slaw but the one I'm trying first......Fresh Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce.
#MartinasKitchenMix. #NetGalley

Martina’s Kitchen Mix is a great addition to anyone’s cookbook collection. The recipes are practical and fun additions to any gathering. I loved the playlist suggestions. I have been a huge Martina McBride fan since the beginning of her career. I feel like this cookbook gives me a glance inside her home. I loved every page.

The basics of a good cookbook include a good layout, good recipes, and good photographs. Martina's Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life includes these attributes, as well as personal vignettes and stories which introduce readers to country music star, Martina McBride’s, personality. She introduces her family, and mentions them throughout, giving the reader (and cooks) a sense of actually knowing them. This extra effort brings Martina and her family to a level that seems like they are ordinary people just like us.

The fact that Martina can cook (this has not been co-written by some chef), and does so for her family and friends makes it even easier to relate to her. The recipes are not only succinct and easy to follow, but they are for dishes real people want to make. Needing a snack for a gathering, I tried the Roasted Maple-Cinnamon Pecans; they were easy and it was difficult not to eat the whole batch. The Cilantro, Lime, and Black Bean Rice turned out perfectly and made an excellent side dish to some Mexican marinated grilled steaks we were having for dinner. Always looking for a good, new brunch dish, Martina’s Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole with Tomato Gravy was next on the list, and it was a hit with my family.

There are several other mouthwatering dishes in my immediate queue: Thai Slaw with Peanut Dressing, Pan-Roasted Halibut (it looks divine), and Chicken and Potatoes with Roasted Lemon and Rosemary Sauce . Martina has included several decadent and also simple desserts, too.

If you’re looking for a cookbook with personality, beautiful photographs, directions that are easy for anyone to follow, and most importantly recipes that ordinary people really want to eat, Martina's Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life is a cookbook you’ll want to include in your collection. Rather than just being a good cookbook, she includes the extras that raise it to a great cookbook (not to mention FUN).

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

I really enjoyed reading Martina's Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life by Martina Mcbride. I received a free advanced e-copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

I learned a lot about Martina Mcbride. I didn't realize she had been making records since 1992. It was wonderful how she went into great detail about her husband, John and how they met. Her children, Delaney, Emma and Eva. Martina has proved that her passion for her family, cooking and music are things that inspire her each day. A wonderful cook with a masterful cooking book based on the love of her family.

This is an excellent book chocked full of great recipes from one of Country music's leading ladies! When Martina McBride isn't on stage, wow-ing fans, she can be found in the heart of the home. Cooking is one of her great passions. In this book "Martina's Kitchen Mix" she shares with us some of her favorite recipes! I'll definitely have to add this one to my kitchen shelves!

Martina McBride has a brand new cookbook coming out called Martina's Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life. It will be released October 30, 2018 by Oxmoor House.

The digital galley I received for review purposes was essentially a sample, showing only the first 87 pages of the book. The recipes included in this sampler consisted of cocktails and appetizers.

While I was disappointed to read only a portion of the book, I liked what I was able to see. I love reading cookbooks and discovering new recipes to try out, and several of these sounded delicious.

I'll be keeping an eye out for this book.... I can't wait to see the rest of the recipes!

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Oxmoor House via Netgalley.

In Martina's Kitchen Mix, Country superstar Martina McBride invites you to a wide variety of beautifully photographed recipes. No one recipe is overly complicated or one-size-fits all. McBride offers "Ad Lib" tips and tricks which encourage readers to make them their own. For anyone who enjoys a bit of storytelling with their cooking, anyone new to the kitchen, or anyone with not enough time to prep big recipes, this is a keeper.

I like a cookbook that the photos of the food look so good it inspires you to make them yourself. This is one of those cookbooks. I also like the fact a lot of the recipes have items you normally use to cook with. From appetizers to dessert with some make your own included you will enjoy this cookbook. I really want to try Grandma's Cinnamon Rolls. Cinnamon Rolls are a family favorite and these look and sound so good. If you like to cook and bake this book is definately for you.
I recieved this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Martina McBride has long been one of my favorite country artists. I was lucky enough to see her sing live in Nashville many years ago and I remember thinking how does such a powerful voice come out of such a tiny human? I was excited to see she had a cookbook and even more excited to see that she has a fantastic ability to put together a good recipe. I would try pretty much anything in this book. What I really loved that many of these were creative recipes I haven't seen before but that they sound completely delicious. I can't wait to get in my kitchen and to try out some of these fantastic recipes! I recommend this book to anyone who loves Martina McBride or who loves to experiment in the kitchen and have a wide array of interesting and tasty recipes at their fingertips.

I am IN LOVE with this cookbook! As soon as I heard Ms. Martina McBride was coming out with this cookbook, I knew I had to check it out. I was NOT disappointed! Her personality comes out so well in this book, and the recipes are to die for! So far I've tried the shrimp & chorizo (OMG!!!) and the cinnamon rolls, which were sooo sinfully good. There's a recipe for a breakfast quick rice, which takes me back to my childhood and I can't wait to try it! I'm making white beans with baby greens soup for dinner tonight.

This book is over 250 pages of fantastic anecdotes and amazing recipes, which are gorgeous, elegant, and delicious, but also accessible and easy. I'm not a pro chef by any means, but I found these recipes easy to understand and follow. The photography is beautiful. and the recipe selection is HUGE- breakfast, drinks, appetizers, sandwiches, tacos, and on... I can't wait to try more recipes from one of my most adored country queens, Martina McBride!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Oxmoor House for the opportunity to read and review this AMAZING new cookbook in exchange for my honest review.
5 out of 5 stars for Martina's Kitchen Mix.

I really enjoyed the what I saw of this cookbook. It's looks like Martina has some wonderful recipes. I read the sample from Netgalley, but it was enough to know I want to add MARTINA'S KITCHEN MIX to cookbook shelves.

An eclectic mix of southern cooking and some hints of European. Delicious photos. However, it would be great if this could break away from the standard cookbook format, and maybe just do a year of family recipes, without such old fashioned format. If a cookbook is based around a celebrity, then it should be more about them and how they celebrate using food. There were a couple of recipes that I would be tempted, but after going through the book, there is nothing in it that would make me go out and buy the book - a quick flick through, and it would go back on the shelf in the bookstore and I'd move on to something else.

I liked this cookbook, it's beautifully illustrated and has lots of stories and tips from the author. The recipes are divided into normal cookbook chapters from appetizers to desserts, including cocktails and one of Martina's favorites. This is a great gift for the cook in your family or someone who entertains frequently but I don't think I would probably make many of these dishes. Easy to read. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is such a fun cookbook to read. It contains so much more than just the recipes,. The introduction was really fun to read especially if you are a Martina McBride fan, she shares a playlist of special music selections, and look for the Ad Lib notes that share special viewpoints and tips for certain recipes. If you like trying new cocktails, this is the book for you as there are a lot of options mixed in with the food recipes. Add to that the beautiful photography and this is a must have for your cookbook library.

This is really more of an appetizers and drinks cookbook, although some of the recipes can easily be turned into side dishes, or used with other ingredients for a main course (ie her bolognese sauce). Each recipe is thoughtfully accompanied by an amazing photograph, and you may find yourself wanting to run to make both the drink and its appetizer! The book offers a great menu for a appetizer/tapas party, as well as for seasonal drinks. It's a fun cookbook, and would be a great gift item if included with some drink items, like a shaker and ingredients!